Senior Scott Stone helped give the Bears a 22-15 advantage and force a Rochester timeout at the 8:24 mark of the first half. Sophomore Troy Ruths connected on three early baskets in the paint to give WU an 11-8 edge, and Stone’s three-point shooting helped the Bears to a 13-5 run.
Trailing by seven, the Yellowjackets answered with a 9-2 run to tie the game behind the outside shooting of freshman Michael Chmielowiec, who hit back-to-back jumpers (including one from beyond the three-point line) from the left corner.
Stone and senior Mike Grunst answered, though, as WU finished the half on an 18-6 run. Stone hit two of his five first-half treys during the spree, while Grunst capped off the run with a three-point play with two seconds left in the half. The Bears led 42-30 at the break. Stone led all scorers in the opening stanza with 17 points on 6-of-9 field goals, while Ruths and Grunst contributed nine points apiece. Sophomore Jon Onyiriuka paced UR with eight points and five rebounds.
Grunst threw down a two-handed dunk to open the half, and Ruths followed with a 15-footer along the right baseline for a 46-30 lead. Ruths continued to score in the post and the Bears built a 17-point lead (53-36) with 14:20 left on the clock, when the Yellowjackets called for time.
UR reeled off six straight points to cut its deficit to 57-48 at the 7:17 mark. Senior Mike Goia, who had a game-high 23 points, hit a triple from the left wing and the Red and Green called timeout. Ruths hit four straight free throws for a 63-51 Bears’ edge, but Goia responded with eight straight points—a three-pointer, three free throws and a lay-up—to draw UR within four points (63-59) with 3:06 to play.
Freshman Sean Wallis checked back into the game with 1:27 to play, and corralled a steal on the ensuing Yellowjackets possession. Classmate Tyler Nading was fouled on that Bears possession, and he hit both free throws for a 65-59 lead.
UR (12-5, 3-3 UAA) sophomore Jeffrey Juron hit a three-pointer, his first field goal of the game, to bring his team to within three points, but Grunst, who finished with 13 points, hit two clutch free throws with eight seconds left to seal the win. Stone finished with 21 points, five assists and five rebounds. Ruths contributed 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Onyiriuka added 16 points and 10 boards for the Yellowjackets.
Washington University returns to action Sunday, Jan. 29 versus Carnegie Mellon University. Tip off is set for noon at the WU Field House.