Thompson's 23 Points Leads WU Past Chicago, 64-60

BOX SCORE

Chicago, Ill., February 27, 2010 – Senior guard Aaron Thompson scored a game-high 23 points and moved into third place on the all-time scoring list as the No. 1 ranked Washington University in St. Louis men’s basketball team posted a 64-60 victory at the University of Chicago in the final regular season game for both teams on Saturday in Chicago, Ill.

Thompson was 7-of-11 from the field, including 4-of-6 from three-point range, as he passed Tyler Nading (2005-09, 1,552 points) into third place with 1,558 points.
Junior Caleb Knepper added 10 points off the bench on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc, while junior Spencer Gay had eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

The Bears had the lead the first 12 minutes of the low-scoring affair, but a three-pointer from Chicago’s John Kinsella tied the score at 14-14 with 7:50 left on the clock. Both teams were ice cold from the field the entire half, and Washington U. connected on just two field goals – both three-pointers by Thompson – in the final 7:04 of the opening half.

Washington University (23-2, 13-1 UAA) managed to take a 20-19 lead to the locker room after shooting just 25.9 percent (7-27) from the field, including 2-of-11 from three-point range. Chicago also struggled the field shooting 28 percent (7-25). The Bears had four assists and 10 turnovers in the first half.

Trailing 30-29, the Bears’ offense caught fire as three-straight three-pointers highlighted a 13-0 run. Thompson started with a lay-up and two free-throws, and then Knepper followed with back-to-back triples. Senior Ross Kelley came of the bench and drilled his fifth three-pointer of the year to cap the run and push the lead to double figures.

Chicago (13-12, 7-7 UAA) got the lead down to four after a pair of free-throws by Kinsella, but Thompson connected on back-to-back three-pointers to push the lead back to double figures (51-41) with 4:20 to play. The Maroons would not go away, and a three-pointer from Matt Johnson with 1:36 to play cut the lead to 55-52.

The Bears ran the shot-clock down on the ensuing possession, before graduate student Sean Wallis hit a three-pointer from the wing to secure the Bears’ 12th-straight win.  

Senior Jake Pancratz led Chicago with 18 points on four three-pointers made, and finished his four-year career with 999 points. Kinsella added 12 points in his final game with the Maroons.

The 2010 NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball selection show will be aired on www.ncaa.com, on Monday, March 1, at 9 a.m. Fans will have the opportunity to watch the selection show in the Fun Room at the Danforth University Center (DUC). Bon Appétit will be providing free continental breakfast to fans attending.

Bear Notebook: Senior Cameron Smith and Thompson played in their 117th game in school history, breaking the all-time mark of 116 set by Nading … Washington University leads the all-time series with Chicago, 42-15, and the Bears have won seven of the last eight meetings … WUSTL is 6-0 this season on games played on Saturday … WUSTL has won 58 of its last 60 games when leading at the half … The 20 points by the Bears in the first half was a season low …The 23rd regular season victory tied for the second most in school history … The 64-60 final score was identical to the first meeting between the two teams.