Junior Rob Keller made his first six shots and scored 15 points in the game's first seven minutes, leading Washington U. to a 28-12 advantage. The Bears opened play with a 19-2 run, with Keller scoring eight of the team's points. He finished the first period with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field.
BU put together a rally throughout the last half of the first frame, led by senior Bryan Lambert who had a career night. The Auburn, Maine native scored all 16 of his first-half points during a 22-11 run to help the Judges draw within five (39-34) at the half. Lambert, who added eight rebounds, also scored his 1,000th career point during that stretch at the 5:08 mark.
Brandeis opened the second half by scoring five of the first seven points to cut WU's lead to 41-39. Junior Anthony Hollins then converted on a three-point play, and sophomore point guard Scott Stone connected from downtown to extend the Bears' lead to 47-41.
Lambert led the Judges back with less than nine minutes to play, when he hit a three-pointer to give BU its first lead of the game at 60-59. Lambert finished with a career-high 36 points on 15-of-27 shooting; he also added 13 rebounds.
Senior Barry Bryant scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half, though, and Stone sealed the win with a 25-foot three-pointer with about 1:00 left to put the Bears up five points (70-65). Stone finished with eight points, five rebounds and five assists, giving him 102 on the season.
Washington University (18-5, 10-2 UAA), which has defeated Brandeis 24 consecutive times, returns to action on Senior Day, which is slated for Sunday, Feb. 22 against New York University. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at the WU Field House; the seniors will be recognized prior to the start of the game.