Connor May goes up for a contested layup during a conference game. (Sam Powers | Managing Photo Editor)

After 16 years, the No. 17 WashU men’s basketball team is headed to the Elite Eight, after a 59-56 Sweet 16 win over No. 22 Wisconsin Lutheran College on March 14. The Bears are now 3-0 for all-time against the Warriors, whom they beat in overtime to advance to the Sweet 16 in 2024. In 2024, the Bears fell to Trine, the eventual national runners-up. This game was no different from the last matchup with Wisconsin Lutheran. Despite a tough battle, the Bears came out on top.

In the first half, WashU and Wisconsin Lutheran were evenly matched, tying the game with almost every turnover. However, the game began to shift with 10 minutes to go as WashU regained the lead and broke away from Wisconsin Lutheran, ending the first half 35-26.

WashU maintained the lead entering the second half. However, the Warriors began to slowly chip away at the lead as the Bears began to struggle on offense, shooting 36% on the floor compared to 56% in the first half. With six minutes left in the half, the Warriors tied the game 47-47 with a 3-pointer. 

“It can be demoralizing when you can’t get one to fall,” senior Hayden Doyle said. “[But] I knew when Yogi [Oliff] made those free throws, I felt like we were able to get some moments and we did.”

The Bears were able to shift the momentum, coming back with a narrow lead that never extended past four points. In the final possessions of the game, WashU kept calm despite last-minute free throws from Wisconsin Lutheran that brought the game within one point. 

“We were willing to take a foul or two to slow momentum and make them set,” head coach Pat Juckem said.

WashU wrapped up the game with two good free throws from standout first-year Connor May, ending the game at 59-56. 

Doyle led the Bears in scoring with 16 points, followed by May with 11 points and senior Drake Kindsvater with 10 points. Sophomore Jake Davis led the Bears in rebounds, notching seven. WashU’s depth showed, with 22 points coming from the Bears’ bench compared to the Warriors’ two. 

Even though the Bears faced another tough matchup against the Warriors, WashU wasn’t rattled and worked within their process.

“It wasn’t anything magic,” Juckem said. “It was just reaffirming and staying committed to what we’ve been doing.”

WashU will now face No. 5 University of Wisconsin–La Crosse in the Elite Eight on March 15 at 7 p.m. CDT. The Eagles entered the NCAA Tournament as Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference runners-up, losing to No. 3 University of Wisconsin–Platteville in the WIAC Champisonhip and boasting a 24-5 regular season record. The Eagles cruised through the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament before defeating No. 9 Illinois Wesleyan University in a 72-65 comeback win.

Correction: this article was updated on March 14 to reflect that WashU is ranked 17th in the d3hoops.com top-25 poll. A previous version of the article said WashU was ranked 13th.

This article was also updated on April 9 to clarify that it had been 16 years since WashU’s last Final Four appearance, not 14.