This past Friday and Sunday, Case Western Reserve University hosted Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) and University of Chicago (UChicago), respectively, in Horsburgh Gymnasium for the start of the Spartans men’s basketball team’s UAA play. 

Unfortunately, the Spartans lost to both opponents, but there were standout players who scored key points in both games. On Friday night, the Spartans faced No. 13-ranked WashU and lost 88-66. With that, their record fell to 8-5 in overall season play and 1-1 in UAA play. First-year forward Cole Frilling scored 11 points. Second-year guard Robert Faller scored ten points, fourth-year forward Michael Hollis led with seven rebounds and second-year forward Ryan Newton earned eight points and five rebounds. Although the game ended in a loss, 11 of the on-court Spartans scored that night, and four blocks were registered by the Spartans. 

Initially, WashU started the game with a bang, going up 6-0; CWRU then matched the score three minutes into the game. However, as the game progressed, the Bears dominated the Spartan. At the score at the halfway mark the score was 47-23. The Spartans improved in the second half, scoring 43 points. However, it was not enough to fill the deficit and the Spartans lost the game 88-66. 

Despite the tough loss to WashU on Friday, the Spartans had another match a couple of days later against the UChicago Maroons. The Spartans battled through the game, but unfortunately fell short, losing 78-65. Frilling was once again a standout, scoring 25 points. Third-year Antonio Ionadi added 15 points. Ionadi and Hollis secured four and five rebounds, respectively. 

The game started with the Maroons getting off to a fast start, going ahead 10-2 in the first few minutes. Eight minutes into the half, the Spartans were trailing behind 30-16. However, the Spartans were able to execute a few runs. By half-time, they only trailed behind 37-31. As the second half started, UChicago pulled ahead by 13 points in three minutes, but the Spartans were hot on their trail. Faller’s three point play helped break the Maroons’ momentum. Unfortunately, this was not enough, and the Maroons increased the score to 59-52. Third-year guard Michael Volkening scored a three pointer to try to increase the Spartans’ score, which, coupled with Faller’s and Frilling’s additional scoring, put the Spartans behind only by two points at the 3:17 mark. Just as it finally seemed as though the Spartans could gain an advantage, UChicago went on an 11-0 run, and the game ended with the Spartans being edged out 78-65. 

The Spartans continue their next round of UAA play as they travel to the University of Rochester next week. Tipoff is on Friday, Jan. 24, and two days later they travel to Atlanta to face off against Emory University.