ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Visiting Washington University, ranked #14 in Division III, withstood a flurry of 3-pointers by Rochester and pulled away late for a 94-87 men's basketball victory at the Louis Alexander Palestra on Sunday afternoon.
Matt Highsmith scored four of his 18 points in the last two minutes as Washington opened a 90-81 lead with 35 seconds remaining. Rochester, down 12 with just under eight minutes left, cut the margin to three points twice in a closing run.
The Yellowjackets drew within 82-79 on a three-pointer from Sam Borst-Smith with 1:56 left. Nick Burt made a layup and Highsmith sank two free throws. After two free throws by Borst-Smith, Highsmith scored on a full-court pass and Luke Silverman-Lloyd sank two more free throws. That made it 90-81.
Jared Seltzer and Borst-Smith hit treys to bring Rochester within 90-87 with 16 seconds left, but Washington hit all four of its free throws in the closing seconds to wrap up the win.
The victory keeps Washington in the hunt for the University Athletic Association title. The Bears are 17-5 overall, 6-5 in the UAA. Chicago, Emory, and NYU are all tied for first place at 7-4. NYU goes to Chicago and Washington next weekend.
Silverman-Lloyd scored a career-high 22 points for Washington. He hit six of seven from the floor, five of six on 3-pointers, and all five of his free throw attempts. But scored 21 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and made four steals. Mitch Styczynski scored 14 points while David Fatoki had eight points and 11 assists. Washington hit 55% from the floor for the game (35-64), 6-10 on 3-pointers, and was 18 of 19 from the foul line (94.7%).
Rochester is 9-13 overall, 5-6 in the UAA. Mack Montague had 19 points, including five 3-pointers. Seltzer had 19 points and 10 rebounds. He sank four 3-pointers. Borst-Smith scored 18 points and handed out seven assists.
The Bears opened a 13-point lead, 36-23, with 6:33 left in the first half. After Borst-Smith sank two free-throws, Kevin Sheehy and Alex Hoey hit 3-point shots to bring Rochester within five. Washington closed the half on a 9-3 run for a 45-33 lead at the break.
Midway through the second half, Highsmith powered in for a layup and added a free throw to give Washington its biggest lead, 68-53, with 12:09 left. Rochester hit five 3-pointers in the next six minutes, closing the gap to 78-72 with 5:19 on the clock. Seltzer and Montague made two 3-pointers each and Zack Ayers had one.