Washington University’s men’s basketball team held off 11th-ranked University of Chicago, 79-74, Saturday at the WU Field House for its eighth University Athletic Association (UAA) championship. With the win, the Bears gained the automatic bid to the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
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Chicago came out on fire from long distance, hitting four of its first five three-point field goal attempts. Senior Jason Vismantas connected on back-to-back treys to open the game, and classmates Drew Adams and Nate Hainje added a triple apiece to give the Maroons a 12-7 edge.
Senior Nick Nikitas kept the Red and Green close, though, with 10 points in the first five minutes of play. The Bears then reeled off 14 straight points for a 28-20 lead with a little more than six minutes to play in the first half. Junior Troy Ruths knocked down two free throws to start the run, and sophomore Tyler Nading broke free for a lay-up in transition. Ruths followed with two straight field goals in the paint, and freshman Aaron Thompson then found the hot hand.
Sophomore Sean Wallis found Thompson free in the corner for a transition trey. Thompson then pulled up for another triple from the right wing to send a packed Field House crowd to its feet.
Hainje countered with 10 consecutive points for the Maroons, including two of his three first-half three-pointers, to draw UC within one point (33-32). Hainje finished the first period with a game-high 15 points and five rebounds, while Vismantas added 10 points for UC.
The Bears, who led 37-36 at halftime, were led by Nikitas’ 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting; Ruths tallied 10 points and Wallis dished out eight assists in the frame, helping WU to 50 percent (14-of-28) shooting from the floor.
Wallis spotted Thompson in the right corner again for a trey to open the second half. Nading then broke loose in transition and Wallis picked up his 10th assist with a little less than 19 minutes to play. Nading, who netted a game-high 24 points and grabbed six rebounds, slashed to the basket again for a lefty lay-up, and found a seam along the baseline for two to give the Bears a 49-39 lead at the 15:52 mark.
Sophomore Phil Syvertsen extended WU’s lead to 52-41 a minute later when he drove the lane for a three-point play. The Maroons bounced back with three straight free throws, and freshman Jake Pancratz used a pump fake to break free for a jumper at the right elbow to trim the Bears’ lead to 52-46.
With a 58-51 lead, Nading took control of the game. He drew four UC fouls and converted 6-of-8 free throws. He also stole the ball twice in a span of a half minute and took a long bounce pass from Wallis for a fastbreak lay-up to extend WU’s lead to 65-53.
UC rallied back to draw within six points with 3:10 left on the clock. Senior Brandon Woodhead hit the front end of a two-shot foul situation, and he connected from downtown the next trip down the floor to make it 74-68. Hainje scored in the post to cut the Maroons’ deficit to four points when Wallis found Nading at the top of the key for a three-pointer for a 77-70 Bears lead; Wallis picked up his school-record 16th assist of the game on the play.
Hainje countered again, this time with a three-point play with 1:14 remaining. With a 77-73 lead, the Bears called for time to set up their next play on offense. Wallis was fouled beyond the three-point line and hit one of two free throws for a five-point edge.
Ruths finished with 19 points and nine rebounds and Thompson had 13 points and three steals. Wallis played 38 minutes and dished out 16 assists and committed only two turnovers. Hainje led Chicago with 20 points and nine rebounds, and Adams scored six of his 11 points down the stretch.
The entire NCAA Tournament bracket will be announced Monday, Feb. 26, on www.ncaasports.com.