ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Brandeis University men's basketball team suffered an 84-56 setback in University Athletic Association (UAA) play tonight at No. 6-ranked Washington University. The Judges drop their third-straight game as they fall to 4-9 overall, 0-2 in the UAA. The Bears improve to 11-2, 2-0 UAA.
After giving up the game's first two buckets, Brandeis scored the next three, taking a a 7-4 lead on sophomore Collin Sawyer's (New London, Conn./New London) trifecta 2:32 into the contest. Washington U. caught fire at that point, scoring 19 unanswered points over the next seven minutes to take a 23-7 lead. The Bears were able to build a 22-point lead before two late Nate Meehan (Lowell, Mass./Phillips Andover) free throws made it a 43-23 Brandeis deficit at the half.
The Judges open the second stanza strong with a 14-3 run over the first 4:02, as a Latye Workman (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bedford Academy) lay-up with 15:58 on the clock made it a single-digit deficit at 46-37. WashU answered with a 13-3 run of their own, and the Bears never looked back.
Washington won thanks to terrific shooting and rebounding. The Bears hit 56.4% (31-55) while holding Brandeis to 33.3% (21-63). They owned a 48-26 rebounding advantage as well.
Individually, Brandeis was led by Meehan, who netted 12 points off the bench, hitting two 3-pointers and all four of his free throws. Sawyer and Workman each added 11 points. Rookie Semih Say (Istanbul, Turkey/Brewster Academy) led the Judges with five rebounds tying a career-high. Classmates Chandler Jones (Springfield, Mass./Springfield Commonwealth Academy) and Lawrence Sabir (Providence, R.I./LaSalle Academy) each had four assists. Jones had a fine all-around performance with six points, four rebounds and a career-high four steals to go with his four helpers.
Washington had four players score in double figures. Andrew Sanders had 16 points, thanks in part to an 8-for-8 performance from the line. Kevin Kucera added 14 points, while Jack Nolan had 12 off the bench and Matt Highsmith contributed 11. David Schmelter led all players with 10 rebounds, while Hank Hunter had nine caroms off the bench, including six on the offensive glass. Kucera dished out eight assists.
Brandeis is back in action on Sunday at 12 noon / 11 Central when they take on the University of Chicago in another UAA contest. Washington meets NYU at the same time.