The Washington University men’s basketball team continues to prove an old sports adage true: everybody loves a winner.

The Bears withstood a strong effort from visiting UAA opponent Rochester, before ultimately pulling away to a 68-59 victory Friday night in front of a raucous home crowd at the Field House. It was the team’s tenth straight victory, as the 13th ranked Bears improved to 4-0 in UAA play and 13-1 overall.

The visiting Yellowjackets got off to a strong start with the help of junior center Jon Onyiriuka, who attacked the paint for two early buckets.

“It was important for us to deny the ball,” said sophomore forward Tyler Nading. “We doubled down in the post, but it was difficult because they were hitting their threes.”

The Bears responded, however, going on a 19-9 run capped by a pair of free throws by sophomore point guard Sean Wallis to take a 19-13 advantage.

Rochester reacted with its own 9-2 run to take the lead at 22-21. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half and entered the break with the Bears on top, 34-33. Wallis scored 10 points and dished three assists for the Red and Green in the first 20 minutes while senior forward Nick Nikitas added 9 points. Onyiriuka led Rochester with 10 points.

“Their big guys are very methodical in the post,” continued Nading. “They slowed us down and kept the pace in their favor in the first half.”

The Red and Green got off to a fast start in the second frame, scoring the half’s first five points to take a 39-33 advantage. Rochester countered with an 8-2 run, capped by Onyiriuka dribbling the length of the floor for a terrific fast-break lay-up that forced the Bears to take a timeout with 13:17 left to play.

Rochester would take its last lead of the game at 54-51. The Bears answered with 12 straight points to take a commanding nine-point lead. Junior forward Troy Ruths started the spurt with seven consecutive points, five of which were at the charity stripe.

“Our defense was the story late in the second half,” asserted Nading. ” We switched to a zone the last few minutes and it really stunted their offense.”

The Yellowjackets would get within six with less than a minute to play, but were forced to foul, and the Bears were able to seal the game at the foul line.

The Bears converted 22 of 25 from the foul line, while the Yellowjackets missed all five of their attempts, giving the Red and Green an enormous 22-0 advantage from the line. Ruths knocked down eight of nine from the stripe en route to 22 points.

Nikitas, who was 3-5 from behind the arc, finished with the game with a career-high 19 points. Onyiriuka was the only Yellowjacket in double figures. He ended up with 22 points on 11-16 shooting and 10 rebounds.

“It was a back and forth game,” said Nading. “We held it together, though.”

The Bears took on Carnegie Mellon University Sunday afternoon at the WU Field House. The team is scheduled to continue their four-game homestand 8 p.m. Friday night when they battle UAA foe Brandeis University.

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