Held without a field goal for the final seven and a half minutes of play, the Washington University men’s basketball team suffered their first loss of the season in the 33rd Annual Lopata Classic Championship game to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Saturday night at the Wash. U. Field House.
Just a day after matching a season-high 84 points on over 50 percent shooting in a win over University of California, Santa Cruz, the Bears’ offense was held to a season-low 36.8 percent from the field.
Skyler Kessler | Student LifeTeam captain and junior Kevin Kucera works his way down the court during the Bears’ game against UC Santa Cruz on Dec. 2. The Bears dropped the team’s first game Saturday night.
The loss drops the Bears to 5-1 on the season and matches their six-game start from a season ago, when the Bears went 15-10.
Despite the final 14-point margin, the Bears lead the Blugolds 48-46 heading into the final six and a half minutes of regulation. After that, the Red and Green gave up four turnovers and went 0-8 from the field, while Eau Claire pulled away. The Blugolds hit all eight of their free throws in the final minute to seal the win.
Junior point guard Kevin Kucera and senior small forward Clinton Hooks struggled mightily from the field, shooting a combined 5-20 and 0-7 from range. Junior power forward Andrew Sanders was the lone Bear to reach double figures, posting 10 points a day after pouring on 23 against the Banana Slugs.
The three Blugold starting guards torched the Bears’ defense for 42 points on an efficient 15-27.
The Bears have a softer midweek matchup coming up against Fontbonne University this Tuesday, Dec. 6.