Box Score St. Louis, Mo. – The Washington University in St. Louis men's basketball team closed out the regular-season, on senior day, with a 70-59 victory over the University of Chicago.
The Bears finish the regular-season with an 18-7 record and an 8-6 mark in UAA play.
Prior to tip-off, the Bears honored senior all-purpose personnel Caleb Heusel, senior assistant coach Josh Horwitz and senior players Kameron Mack, David Windley, Justin Hardy, Jack Nolan and Charlie Jacob. WashU also honored 2021 graduate Payden Webb.
Additionally, Hardy was award the Robert L. Pearce award, which is an award established to honor and recognize special characteristics of commitment and perseverance.
Just two days after beating Chicago by nearly 30 points, the Bears had a bit of a slower start against the Maroons this time around, going down 15-5 in the opening minutes of the half.
WashU, however, started putting together a 10-0 run with 7:04 remaining in the first to take a 23-22 lead. All 10 points were scored by first-years Jake Wolf, Drake Kindsvater and Hayden Doyle.
Wolf started things off with a pair of free throws and Kindsvater scored on an offensive putback. Doyle netted a layup before Kindsvater stole the ball and slammed one home. It was Doyle who scored the go-ahead basket on a jumper at 3:41.
A 3-pointer from Jacob and a jumper from Nolan gave the Bears a 31-26 edge with 1:17 on the clock and a jumper from Chicago's Brandon Beckman gave the Bears a 31-28 advantage at half time.
Chicago came out of the break to go on a 6-0 run to take a 34-31 lead, prompting a WashU timeout.
Junior Matt Gonzalo then drilled a 3-pointer to tie things up at 34 but the Maroons hit a 3-pointer and a jumper to take a five-point, 39-34 lead.
WashU followed that with a 7-0 run, starting with a 3-pointer from Windley. A jumper from Nolan tied things up at 39 and Kindsvater ended the run with a layup at 13:15.
Chicago brought the game within one point, 43-42, before Nolan netted a shot from distance and Doyle hit a jumper to go up 48-42.
With 8:05 left on the clock, the Bears put together a 7-0 run to take a double-digit, 55-44 lead. Doyle started things off with a jumper and Nolan drilled a 3-pointer and added a layup.
Five more points from Nolan gave the Bears a 60-46 edge with 5:47 on the clock. The Bears continued to keep up a double-digit lead, extending it to 66-54.
Surrounded by a sea of "Hardy Strong" t-shirts, Hardy scored the final points for the Bears with 20 seconds, putting in a layup.
Nolan led the way for the Bears with 21 points and four steals. Jacob reached double-figures for the 10th-straight game with 12 points and eight rebounds. Doyle netted 10 points with four assists and Kindsvater finished with seven points, five rebounds, three steals and three blocks.
Three Chicago players reached double-figures, led by 14 points from Zach Munson.
The Bears now await their fate for the NCAA Tournament. The bracket will be revealed on Monday at 11:30 a.m. CT.
