St. Louis, Mo., January 14, 2011 — Junior Dylan Richter scored a career-high 25 points but it was not enough to lift Washington University to the win as the Bears fell 69-68 to Emory University in University Athletic Association (UAA) action on Friday night at the WU Field House in St. Louis, Mo.
The Bears led by as many as 14 points but Emory connected on 12 three-pointers, eight of which came in the second half, to pick up the win. Washington U. falls to 6-7 overall and 0-2 in the UAA, while Emory improves to 10-3 and 1-1 in conference action.
Emory was 8-of-17 from three in the second half when the Eagles shot 48.1 percent from the field compared to just 39.1 percent shooting for the Bears. The Eagles had five players score in double figures and were led by Alex Gulotta's 15 points and five three pointers. Junior Alex Toth (12 points) and senior Spencer Gay (11 points) also scored in double figures for the Bears.
Washington U. limited Emory to just 29.4 percent shooting (10-of-34) in the first half and the Bears led 39-31 at the break. Emory's offense was clicking early on, with the Eagles staking claim to a 11-7 lead with a three from Austin Claunch four minutes into the action.
Richter led a Washington U. charge, scoring six points during a 15-3 run that saw the Bears take an eight-point lead. Richter's first three of the game put the Red and Green in front by one, 12-11, and then connected from deep again two minutes later to put the Bears up by four.
Emory's high-pressure defense resulted in a nine first-half turnovers for Washington U., allowing the Eagles to keep the score close despite their cold shooting from the field. Alex Graven converted a three-point play to pull Emory within three, 26-23, but Richter had the answer for the Bears, sinking his third triple of the half to put the Red and Green back in front by six.
Washington University dominated the paint in the first half, holding an 18-8 advantage down low with Toth (seven points) and Gay (five points) doing most of the damage. The Bears also swatted away eight shots in the first half alone, setting a new season high in the process.
The Bears quickly built a double-digit lead to start the second half, taking a 14-point lead on another Richter three-pointer. However, the Bears' lead was short lived with Emory heating up from downtown as the Eagles steadily chipped away at their deficit. Three-pointers from Claunch, Jake Davis and Michael Feidberg pulled Emory to within eight, and a Greven three-pointer at the 12:30 mark made it a five-point game.
Washington University went a stretch of 10:48 without a field goal through the middle part of the second half, while the Eagles continued to connect from three-point range. It was Gulotta that provided the biggest swing of the game, hitting three-straight three-pointers to turn a two-point WUSTL lead into a seven-point Emory advantage over a span of just 1:50.
Washington University made a late charge, pulling within three on a Ben Hoener lay-up with 1:16 to play, and cutting the deficit to just one thanks to a Caleb Knepper three-pointer with 2.6 showing on the clock, but never came all the way back.
Washington University wraps up its two-game conference home stand on Sunday, Jan. 16, against the University of Rochester. Tip-off is set for 11:30 a.m. at the WU Field House.
Bear Notebook: Washington University had its nine-game winning streak against Emory snapped and the Bears now lead the all-time series 38-9 … The Bears fall to 4-1 at home this season … Washington U. held Emory to 37.7 percent shooting and has now held 12 of 13 opponents to less than 45 percent shooting … Gay has scored in double figures in 12 of 13 games played this year.