Senior Hayden Doyle embraces assistant coach Steve Wilcutt after the final buzzer. (Ella Giere | Photo Editor.)

The No. 17 WashU’s men’s basketball team fell short of the national championship game, losing 72-60 to No. 1 New York University in the semifinals of the NCAA Division III tournament on Mar. 20 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The 2024-25 season marks the fifth consecutive year the Bears have made the championship tournament, and first time the program has made the Final Four since their 2008-09 championship winning season.

After making a three-point shot from a turnover for the first play of the game, it was clear the Violets were hungry for a win. However, the Bears, too, showed determination from the outset by responding with a 6-0 run, putting them up 6-3.

WashU used their physicality to their advantage in order to handle NYU’s picks well.

However, this lead did not last for long: NYU soon went on a 15-0 run to put the Violets up 26-15. Meanwhile, the Bears’ usual big shooters, like senior Hayden Doyle and first-year Connor May, were not performing as well. Doyle’s first successful basket was not made until there were less than two minutes left in the first half, and May made his first shot five minutes into the second. Both of these three-pointers, however, were pivotal moments in the game as they re-energized WashU players and fans.

Shortly before entering halftime, NYU’s starting guard Zay Freeney, who had six points and averaged 12 points per game this season, was ejected due to a flagrant two foul on WashU senior Drake Kindsvater. This would be a turning point for both the Violets and the Bears playing as they faced the second half.

“When Zay went out it became an emotional game for us,” NYU head coach Dave Klatsky said.

The Bears ended the first half down by only six points at 33-39 to the nation’s number one team, shooting a field goal percentage of 43% to the Violet’s 50% and 25% to the Violet’s 45% behind the arc. Despite being known for their rebounding game, WashU trailed NYU in rebounds by four. WashU also allowed NYU to make seven second-chance points compared to their three. These two statistics in particular foreshadowed the game’s outcome.

Going into the second half, the Violets once again scored first with a three-pointer. Five minutes later, however, the Bears were able to cut the Violets’ lead to six, their smallest lead of the half. Losing just 43-49 due to May’s first basket of the game revved up the energy on both the court and bench, inspiring the first-year to go on to score 10 points for the team.

With less than 10 minutes left of the game, NYU’s guard Hampton Sanders, who shot six-for-six behind the arc, advanced his team to their biggest lead of the game: a 14 point margin.

Characteristically, May made a long-range-shot that roused an eruption of energy in the stadium and brought WashU fans to their feet. But NYU responded and stepped up, exemplifying their deserved ranking, as WashU’s shots began to fall short once again.

The Violets went on to defeat the Bears 72-60, securing their spot in the national championship against Trinity College. 

The final box score demonstrated how both of the WashU’s seniors led their team by example: Doyle led the squad in points with 17 and Kindsvater led in rebounds with 10.

As a team, the Bears concluded their season ouscoring opponents by an average margin of 12 points, 12.4 points off of turnovers, and making 9.5 three-pointers per game compared to opponents’ 7.

As Doyle and Kindsvater’s WashU athletic careers have now come to an end, they will continue to build on the legacy of support previous alums have left for them — most notably the Class of ‘08-’09 who poured confidence and encouragement into the Bears during this season’s tournament.

“For next season, I know I’ll be watching every single game wherever I am,” Kindsvater said. “These are my best friends, I don’t understand how I’m not going to keep in touch.”

When asked what Doyle and Kindsvater would say to their younger selves, who had dreamed of making it to the Final Four, the answer was clear:

“I’m proud of you.”

Despite being in the same graduating class as Doyle and Kindsvater, fellow senior Kyle Beedon will see the court again next year.

Beedon, a standout senior who was injured for the entire season, will return to the court for a fifth-year after adopting a supportive role for the Bears from the sidelines. Alongside Beedon are current juniors guard Yogi Oliff, guard Will Grudzinski, and center Calvin Kapral, who have paved their way into becoming integral parts of the team.

In addition, guards Ryan Cohen, Emmett Lawton, and Lucas Vogel, and forwards Jake Davis and George Gale, have continued to improve as sophomores since their first appearance last year. First-year Connor May played an impressive total of over 750 minutes and averaged 11.9 points per game, proving to be a crucial player the Bears will rely on in future seasons.

WashU huddles to get amped-up before their game against NYU. (Ella Giere | Photo Editor.)

Despite the end of WashU’s season after a standout performance throughout this tournament, head coach Pat Juckem belabored over the impact the Class of 2025 had on the team throughout the season and how it is reflected in the men’s basketball program’s history and will influence its future.

“They’ve poured and invested so much into their teammates,” Juckem said. “They’ve learned that because others supported them when they were young, and it continues the cycle. Their legacy and their impact is going to be felt every day going forward.”