Ty Van Eekeren fights for the ball in the Lopata classic (Photo by Clara Richards | Student Life)

With less than 30 seconds left in regulation and the score knotted at 58, sophomore Hayden Doyle knew to get the ball to Charlie Jacob. The fifth-year guard Jacob had been the fulcrum of the Bear’s success all season, and Saturday night was no exception. “We wanted to get him a post touch,” said Doyle postgame. “Give him space, and he’s going to get a good look off.”

 And indeed he did — Jacob dribbled twice and made his move towards the lane, creating more than enough separation to get off a smooth 16 footer. The shot barely moved the net as it fell through to give the Bears a 2-point lead in the finals of the 38th Annual Lopata Classic.

The game headed to overtime after Pomona-Pitzer was able to tie the game at the buzzer with a putback secured from a missed box out. In overtime, it was first-year Will Grudzinski’s time to shine, as he hit two big 3-pointers, one to even the game with one minute and fifty-one seconds left, and the second to cut the deficit to one with six seconds on the clock. 

After two Pomona-Pitzer free throws put the Bears at a late deficit, Doyle was fouled with 1.8 seconds on the shot clock. After hitting the first, Doyle intentionally missed the second free throw wide right and the Bears were able to secure the rebound. Despite the brief momentum, they could not get off a shot to send the game to double overtime in a 71-69 loss. The Bears fell to 5-2 on the season. 

Grudzinski, who put up 23 points in the tournament semifinals, led the way for the Bears with 17 points, tying a Lopata Classic record with 12 three-pointers in the two games. Jacob and sophomore Drake Kindsvater notched 16 points apiece while Doyle added in 13 points and a team season-high of 6 assists. 

In a game with 12 lead changes, nine ties, and neither team able to go ahead by more than seven points, whoever got hot at the right time would come away with the win. In the end, it was Pomona-Pitzer, led by tournament MVP Joe Cookson, who got the best of the Bears. Thus far, four of the WashU squad’s seven games have been decided by just three points or less.

The weekend’s games were part of the 38th Annual Lopata Classic, a tournament funded by a gift from the late Stanley Lopata, a Washington University in St. Louis alumnus and emeritus trustee, and his late wife Lucy. WashU had won the classic 26 times but was unable to get the job done on Saturday.

Despite the loss to an unranked opponent, there is much to be excited about for the rest of the Bears’ season. The team secured a decisive 87-70 win against Eureka College to advance to the tournament finals, and prior to the overtime loss, they had been on a four game winning streak. The squad is young and hungry; after Jacob’s team high of 16.1 points per game, the team is led by five underclassmen: sophomore forward Kindsvater (14.3 ppg, 5.9 rebounds), freshman Grudzinski (11 ppg), sophomore Doyle (9.1 ppg, 4.0 assists), sophomore big Jake Wolf (6.4 ppg, 6.6 rebounds), and freshman guard Yogi Oliff (6.0 ppg, 2.3 steals), who sat Saturday with a heel injury.

Replacing former stars Jack Nolan and the late Justin Hardy as the team’s leading shooters, Jacob and Grudzinski have formed WashU’s own “Splash Brothers” tandem. Jacob is shooting .433 from outside the arc, and Grudzkini a scorching .465 clip on close to six attempts per game; both received all tournament honors. When asked about his hot start, Grudzinski attributed it to the rest of the team and head coach Pat Juckem’s game plan: “Honestly, reading our teammates and what they do best. Most of my shots I haven’t created, they’ve been created through the system, so it’s all credited to my teammates.” Outside shooting should continue to be key to the Bears’ success: after Saturday’s game, the team is second in the UAA in 3-point percentage.  

Grudzinski was also clear about Jacob’s impact on both himself and the team early in the season. “He’s been a big mentor towards me…it’s not just on the court, it’s everything: in life, the way he carries himself, and how good of a teammate he is.” His teammates were in agreement: “He’s a great player but an even better guy,” said Doyle. “He’s always picking me up, picking everyone [else] up.”

Jacob himself, who started every game last season and has played for Juckem since his first year at WashU, was equally complementary to the underclassmen. “It’s just a different level of joy that brings me to watch them come along and spread their wings,” Jacob said. “All the young kids, I think so highly of — they’re gonna be such good players. I told them yesterday, I can’t wait to come back in like four years and just watch you dominate. Like when you’re my age? It’s gonna be great. Must-see TV.” 

The Bears will continue their season at Fontbonne on December 7th. Their next home game is December 11th versus Principia. UAA play won’t begin for another month, when WashU will take on UChicago on January 7th.