Visiting Washington University in St. Louis jumped out to a double-digit lead early on and was able to hold that lead for much of the game in a 75-61 victory over the University of Rochester men's basketball team in a University Athletic Association matchup on Sunday afternoon at the Louis Alexander Palestra.
Prior to the game, seven Yellowjackets were honored in Senior Day festivities with their families as the Rochester men closed out their home schedule for the 2023-24 season.
Competing in their final home game were graduate students Mitchell Kershner, Matt Niemczura and C.J. Amsellem, fifth-year seniors Andrew Jackson and Josiah Knight and seniors Amir Basma and Matt Wiele.
After the opening tip, visiting Washington (15-7, 5-6 UAA) accelerated out to a big early margin, scoring the first 15 points of the game after the opening three and a half minutes.
Rochester (10-12, 4-7 UAA) came out cold, missing its first seven shots from the floor, spotting the Bears their 15-point lead. Kyle Beedon and Calvin Kapral scored 11 of the 15 points in the hot start for the visitors.
Amsellem got a 3-pointer to fall to open the scoring for the Yellowjackets, with Rochester using an 8-1 run to trim the deficit to eight over the next three minutes. Malachi Moore sank a step-back jumper just inside the arc to make the score 16-8.
Later in the half, WashU's defense held Rochester without a field goal over a four-minute stretch again, scoring six straight points in that span to regain the 15-point cushion.
With just over a minute to go in until intermission, Rochester's Ethan McEachern stopped the scoreless streak with a 3-pointer, sending his team into halftime down 12 at 31-19.
In the second half, the Bears kept the Yellowjackets at arms reach, with each team trading baskets throughout the first five minutes.
A Jackson jumper and Wiele driving layup started an 8-3 rush to trim the Bears lead to 11, down 44-33 with 12:40 left on the clock.
But two baskets by the Bears quickly thwarted that comeback, as Will Grudzinski hit a pull-up jumper and Beedon drained a floater in the lane.
As the clock ticked down past the halfway point of the second period, Rochester again tried to come back, getting as close as 11 points down following a 3-pointer from Corvin Oprea in the right corner, but WashU again answered though, scoring five of the next six points to rebuilt its comfortable lead.
The visiting Bears held a big advantage on the glass in this one, as WashU outrebounded Rochester 63-42. Washington added 19 offensive rebounds that led to 21 second chance points and a rough shooting day from distance (4-for-29) for Rochester aided in the defeat.
Rochester's leading scorer on the day was Tomiwa Adetosoye who finished with 13 points. Oprea ended with 12 to finish off an impressive weekend and Jackson scored 10 points while securing five rebounds.
Washington's Hayden Doyle led all players with 21 points adding 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Beedon scored 18 points while Kapral finished with a double-double, notching 12 points and 13 boards.
UR now hits the road for its final three games of the season, first heading to Carnegie Mellon on Friday night for a 7:30 pm matchup.