Oliff stayed confident, like the Bears have all year in clutch situations, and sank both shots to give the Bears a 68-67 lead that they would not relinquish. After a failed full-court heave from Illinois College, the rambunctious WashU student section stormed the court as the Bears stamped their ticket to the Sweet Sixteen.

The Bears not only earned a spot in the tournament field, but obtained hosting privileges in the first and second rounds, one of just 16 teams to do so.

The Washington University men’s basketball team played its first game without former head coach Mark Edwards involved in 48 years. The Bears opened their season with a 91-62 win against Illinois College, new head coach Pat Juckem’s first since taking over for Edwards in May.

The Washington University baseball team has gone 10-6 since the start of spring break, bringing their season record over .500. The Bears are now 13-11 on the season after sweeping a doubleheader against the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Thursday at Kelly Field.

By Monday, pending clear weather, the Washington University baseball team will have played 10 games in only six days. Senior Nick Vom Brack led the way to victory in two of those 10 games, against Millikin University on Wednesday, with a pair of two-run home runs. “Situationally, I haven’t been hitting as well as I would’ve liked to,” Vom Brack said.