Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 11, 2013 – Junior guard Alan Aboona set a University Athletic Association (UAA) single-game record with 10 three-pointers, including the game-winner with nine seconds left to lead the No. 12-ranked Washington University in St. Louis men's basketball team to an 86-84 win at Emory University Friday night.
Aboona hit his first nine three-pointers of the game and finished 10-of-11 from beyond the arc to break the previous UAA single-game record for three-pointers of nine set in 2000, 2001 and 2012. His nine threes in a row also broke the Washington University record for consecutive three-pointers of seven set by Gene Nolan during the 1993-94 season.
Emory built a 13-point lead (77-64) with 8:33 remaining in the second half. A pair of baskets by sophomore forward Matt Palucki cut the deficit to single digits (77-68), but a pair of free throws gave Emory a 79-68 lead with 6:17 to play. The Bears answered with a 15-1 run, including a pair of three-pointers and a three-point play by Aboona, over the next 4:39 to take their first lead of the game.
The Eagles scored the next four points of the game to regain the lead, 84-83, with 20 seconds left. After Emory called timeout, Washington U. pushed the ball up the court and Aboona made a step-back three-pointer with nine seconds left to give the Bears the lead back, 86-84. Emory drove down the court and took the potential game-tying shot from the baseline, but it hit off the side of the backboard to seal the win for the Bears.
Emory led throughout the first half, building a 29-21 lead with nine minutes left in the half. Aboona hit back-to-back three-pointers to bring Washington U. to within 29-27. A three-pointer by Emory gave the Eagles a 47-41 lead with 2:24 left in the half, but Aboona again hit back-to-back three-pointers to tie the game with 1:11 left in the half. A second-chance basket just before the buzzer gave Emory a 49-47 lead at halftime.
Washington U. shot 49.3 percent (33-67) from the field in the game, including 12-of-19 (63.2 percent) from beyond the arc. Emory finished with 50 percent (30-60) shooting from field, including 10-of-18 (55.6 percent) from three-point range. The Bears outrebounded Emory 40-32, including a 14-8 advantage on the offensive glass.
Aboona led all scorers in the game with a career-high 35 points on 12-of-16 from the field to go with his four rebounds and three assists. His 35 points was the highest individual scoring performance for the Washington U. men since Troy Ruths also scored 35 on Dec. 15, 2007, against Coe College. Junior forward Chris Klimek added 21 points, eight rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals. Palucki also finished in double-figures with 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while junior guard Kevin Bischoff and sophomore forward Nick Burt added eight points each. Bischoff also dished out a team-high four assists.
Washington U. (11-2, 1-1 UAA) returns to action Sunday, Jan. 13, at No. 4-ranked University of Rochester. Tip-off is set for 11:30 a.m. (ET) at the Palestra in Rochester, N.Y. The Yellowjackets defeated the University of Chicago 64-47 Friday night.
Bear Notebook: Washington U. improved to 41-10 all-time against Emory … The Bears have a conference-best all-time UAA record of 266-82 (.764) … It was the 11th time this season that Washington U. has outrebounded its opponents … Aboona's 10 three-pointers were the second most in a game this season in NCAA Division III, ranking behind Jack Taylor (27) of Grinnell College … Klimek has now scored in double-digits in 10 games this season.