For just the second time in program history, the No. 2 Washington University’s men’s basketball team finished the season with an undefeated record in University Athletic Association play. The Bears enter the NCAA Division III tournament on an 18-game winning streak (23-2 overall) with six of those wins coming by four points or fewer.

It took fewer than three years and fewer than 75 games for junior Melissa Gilkey and senior Chris Klimek to each score their 1,000th career point as Washington University basketball players. Years of hard work and some tough choices led each player to the Bears and the success they are enjoying on the hardwood.

As the buzzer sounded, 1,911 fans roared while a wave of “600” signs could be seen across the Field House, and men’s basketball players embraced head coach Mark Edwards as he notched his 600th career victory on Friday against University of Rochester.

With a pair of double-digit road conference victories, the Washington University men’s basketball team continued its torrid stretch of play and pushed its winning streak to nine games. The Bears relied on a multitude of players to defeat Case Western Reserve University 77-64 and Carnegie Mellon University 94-81.

Key players Alan Aboona, No. 10, junior guard, First Team all-conference Point guard Aboona has taken arguably the largest leap of any Bears’ player over the past year, transforming from a solid complementary player into a poised team leader. Aboona’s confidence is evident through his daring passes and catch-and-shoot three-pointers launched without hesitation.

With a 10-1 record and top-five ranking to its name, the Washington University men’s basketball team was riding high into Illinois on Jan. 5 for its University Athletic Association opener against the University of Chicago. But the Bears endured a humbling defeat, scoring a season-low 60 points and losing by eight.

Maybe it was all in the mustaches. With four of five starters still sporting their looks from No-shave November, the No. 10 Washington University men’s basketball team remained undefeated after a 67-57 win over No. 7 Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday, claiming its 13th-straight victory in games in the Lopata Classic.

The Washington University men’s basketball team has raced to a 5-0 start with four of its wins by at least 18 points and climbed 11 spots in the Division III rankings since the preseason poll to No. 10 overall.

Gone from the roster of the Washington University men’s basketball team are last year’s leading scorer and any connections to the 2009 national championship squad, which had defended a title from the year before. Also gone is a player that was expected to help fill those leading scorer shoes.