The Bears took down Aurora (0-5) in overtime on Friday night, 97-89, while beating Anderson University (2-2) in the championship game on Sunday, 70-68.

In the first game of the tournament and the Bears’ second consecutive overtime game, junior forward Zach Kelly had a huge night, racking up 9 rebounds and a career-high 23 points. Kelly scored eight of his 25 points in overtime, propelling Wash. U. to a victory over the winless Spartans. Kelly had been named the UAA Athlete of the Week for the previous week.

Perhaps feeling the side effects of a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Indiana native Cameron Smith’s family, the Bears started the game cold, going 1-7 in field goals in the first six minutes. Despite this early drought, senior forward Tyler Nading scored nine straight points midway through the first half to put the Bears ahead, 25-19.

Aurora, however, came back, taking a 35-32 lead into halftime as the Red and Green scored only one basket in the final 7:13.

A three-pointer from junior guard Aaron Thompson with 14:55 left in the second half to spark the Bears offense into a 16-0 run, erasing a five-point deficit and taking a strong lead over the Spartans, 57-46.

During the final 11:49 of regulation play, Aurora evened the score on a series of three-pointers from Chad Trudo, Dusty Magee and Shane Roland. Both of the Bears’ chances to win the game, a three-pointer and a layup, were off the mark, and the game went into overtime, where Kelly took over and helped the team put away Aurora.

Nading had a double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 11 boards, while Thompson also added 19 points. Roland led all scorers with 27 points.

“In the waning moments of Friday’s game…[a referee] came up to me, and he said, ‘Well, Coach, I was really impressed with your kids because you know you’re going to get everybody’s A game every night out.’ That’s exactly what’s happening, and I’m fine with it. That’s the way it should be. That’s what makes us a better team in the long run,” Head Coach Mark Edwards said.

Thompson’s dominance continued in the championship game, as he dropped 20 points and earned himself the tournament MVP.

After keeping it close in the first seven minutes of the game, Anderson started to pull away from the Bears after a layup by Ryan Fultz. Fultz scored the next six points for the Ravens.

The Bears were in foul-trouble for most of the half, committing 15 fouls and limiting the playing time of Nading, Kelly and freshmen Dylan Richter and Alex Toth.

In the final minutes of the first half, Anderson at one point lead 36-25. This was cut down to a seven-point lead going into halftime. Senior Sean Wallis hit a layup with less than one minute left, and Cameron Smith, a junior nailed two key free throws with 5.2 seconds left.

For the second time in one weekend, the Bears would have to come from behind in the second half for a win.

Sophomore Caleb Knepper played a huge role in the Bears’ second-half resurgence, coming off the bench to replace a foul-ridden Nading. Knepper had a career-high 15 points and five rebounds.

With only 6:24 left in the game, Smith hit a three-pointer to give the Bears their first lead since 13:39 in the first half. The Bears would not trail again for the rest of the game.

Anderson’s Ty Riddle had a chance to win the game on a last-second three-pointer, but the shot was off and knocked out of bounds with .2 seconds left.

Washington University will host the 25th Annual Lopata Classic this weekend, playing their first home game of the season. Tip-off is set for Friday at 8 p.m. at the Field House.