Waukesha, Wis., Nov. 24, 2018 – The Washington University in St. Louis men's basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak with a 71-69 win at Carroll University (Wis.) Saturday in the Nicholas Investments Thanksgiving Classic in Waukesha, Wis.
WashU improved to 2-2 with the win, while Carroll fell to 2-2.
Sophomore guard Jack Nolan scored 17 of his game-high 20 points in the second half, while junior guard Matt Nester scored 14 of his career-high 16 points in the first half. WashU shot a season-high 55.1 percent (27-49) from the field, and hit 8-of-17 from three-point range.
Nester had the hot hand early on hitting his first three shots from beyond the arc as WashU led 11-7. Freshman Charlie Jacob came off the bench and ignited a 7-0 run with a pull-up jumper and a three-pointer as the lead grew to 18-9.
Nester canned his fourth three of the first half as WashU jumped in front 23-14. The Bears hit five of their first six shots from three-point range. Junior guard Jonathan Arenasput back a miss to give the Bears a 29-16 lead with 5:47 left and forced a full timeout.
Carroll answered with a 7-0 run and forced a full timeout by WashU. The Bears scored the final six points of the half to take a 37-24 lead to the locker room. Nester had 14 points as WashU shot 54.2 percent (13-24) from the field and hit 5-of-9 from three-point range.
The lead grew to 48-33 with 12:44 left following a pair of buckets by junior center Hank Hunter. Carroll went on a 9-0 run to cut the WashU lead down to 55-52, but freshman Justin Hardy made a lay-up and Nolan drained a three to make it 60-52.
Carroll cut the lead to 67-63 with 26 seconds left, but Nolan broke away for a wide-open lay-up with 24 seconds left to seal the victory.
Nick Penny led Carroll with 15 points, while Tyler Ingebrightsenadded 13 points. The Pioneers shot 47.1 percent (24-51) from the field and hit 14-of-16 free-throws.
WashU concludes play at the Nicholas Investments Thanksgiving Classic against Carthage College (3-1) Sunday at 2 p.m.