The Emory men's basketball team got back into the win column and in the process a first-place tie in the University Athletic Association as it rallied for a Sunday win at home over Washington University. The No. 6-ranked Eagles upped their overall record to 17-3, 7-2 in the league battling to a 73-68 triumph over the No. 11-ranked Bears who slipped to 16-4 overall, 7-2 in conference action.
Emory trailed by as many as 15 points during the first half and still faced a 10-point gap with 10:53 left in contest following a layup by the Bears' Jack Nolan. However, Emory stiffened on the defensive of the floor, holding WU to just two-of-14 field goal tries over the final 10:27 while closing out the contest on a 24-9 run to win its ninth game in 11 outings at the Woodruff PE Center. Junior Nick Stuck spearheaded the decisive stretch scoring 13 of his team-high 19 points while classmate Romin Williams totaled eight of his 11. Emory began the spurt by scoring 13 unanswered points, tying the game at 62-62 with 6:36 on the clock after a Stuck triple, and then taking the lead for good 55 seconds later when Stuck knocked down a jumper. Stuck boosted Emory a 70-66 edge with 1:09 remaining after hitting a pair of free throws. WU then cut the lead in half following a bucket by DeVaughn Rucker with 53 ticks on the clock and then had a chance to tie or take the lead after Emory misfired on its ensuing possession. After the Bears were not able to convert, Stuck extended the Eagles to a three-point advantage after making one-of-two at the stripe. WU had one last opportunity but turned the ball over which led to Emory to sinking a pair of charity tosses to close out the game's scoring.
Stuck ended the afternoon six-of-13 from the floor, including two-of-four from beyond the arc, and five-of-seven from the foul line in registering his 10th double-figure scoring performance of the campaign. Junior Matt Schner was next on the team's score sheet with 13 points, sinking three treys along the way, while also grabbing six rebounds.
Wash U was led in scoring by guard Jack Nolan who finished with a game-high 30 points, 21 coming on seven-of-15 three-point shooting.
Emory wrapped up the day 40.4 percent (23-of-57) from the field compared to the Bears' effort of 37.1 percent (23-of-62). Over the final 20 minutes, the Eagles converted 42.9 percent of their field goal tries while WU hit at just a 31.0 percent clip. The Bears held a 44-35 bulge on the glass, with Lawrence Rowley pacing the Eagles with seven caroms. Emory turned the ball over just seven times, its eighth single-digit outing of the season, and made the most of 12 WU miscues by scoring 21 points.
Emory, tied with Wash U and Brandeis for the spot in the conference with five games to play, returns to action on Friday (Feb. 14) when it hosts New York University in an 8:00 pm start.