Sophomore center Mike Grunst scored seven points to spark a 15-4 run to give the Bears a 55-43 lead with less than nine minutes remaining in the game. Grunst finished with nine points--all in the second half--and four assists. WU kept its lead around 10 points the rest of the way, as it outscored NYU 43-30 in the second half.
The Bears jumped out to an 11-6 lead behind junior Rob Keller's three three-pointers in the opening minutes. The Violets chipped away thereafter and took their first lead of the half, a 19-17 margin, with 4:00 left. However, WU regained the lead with 30 seconds left in the half to round out the scoring (26-25), as Keller connected on his fourth three-pointer of the half. He led all scorers at the break with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting. WU also notched 10 assists on 11 total field goals.
Senior Barry Bryant tallied 16 points, six assists and five rebounds in his final game at the WU Field House. Classmate Ryan DeBoer pulled down 11 rebounds and added eight points.
Washington University (19-5), which has won 19 or more games 10 times in the Mark Edwards era, is back in action Saturday, Feb. 28 at the University of Chicago for the regular-season finale. Game time is slated for 8 p.m. in the Windy City.