“Vassar hit big shots throughout the game, but we hit the big shots at the end of game,” said 26th-year head coach Mark Edwards. “It was a good win against a team that played very well today. We are a young team and still learning.”
Juniors Troy Ruths, Sugar Land, Texas (Stephen F. Austin) and Danny O’Boyle, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Saguaro) led the Bears with 17 points apiece, while sophomore Tyler Nading, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Thunder Ridge) added 14 points and five rebounds.
Washington U. built its largest lead of the game at 53-41 with 11:17 remaining in the second half after a dunk by junior Moss Schermerhorn, Woody Creek, Colo. (Aspen). Vassar would not go away as they answered with a 16-3 run to take the 57-56 advantage with 7:01 left in the game.
Freshman Cameron Smith, Noblesville, Ind. (Noblesville) scored seven points in the final 31 seconds to help the Bears pull away at the end. With Washington U. leading by two (71-69) inside the final minute, Smith drained a three-pointer from the corner to push the lead to 74-69. He then sank two free-throws to make it 76-69 with 12 seconds left, and two more free-throws with one second left to finish off the five-point win. Smith finished with nine points, including 4-for-4 from the charity stripe.
Vassar (0-1) shot a blistering 53.7 percent (29-54) from the field for the game, including 60 percent (9-15) from three-point range. Brian Butterworth had a game-high 21 points for Vassar on 5-of-8 shooting beyond the arc.
Sophomore point guard Sean Wallis, Northbrook, Ill. (Glenbrook North) had a career-high 10 assists for the Bears in the win, while former high school teammate and freshman Zach Kelly, Northbrook, Ill. (Glenbrook North) had a team-high seven rebounds despite playing just 11 minutes.
Washington University (1-0) returns to action Sat., Nov. 18, at 3 p.m. (ET) against Colby College in the championship game of the Fourth Annual Babson Invitational Tournament.