Sophomore Kye Robinson scored a game-high 35 points and added 11 rebounds to lead the University of Mary Washington men's basketball team to a 73-68 victory over the University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse on Saturday night at Ron Rosner Arena. The Eagles improve to 27-3 on the season, and advance to the national quarterfinals on Thursday in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

After an early three pointer from junior Jadon Burgess, La Crosse followed with seven straight points to grab the early lead. UW-LC continued to hit shots, but the Eagles were able to get momentum by answering, including a three pointer from freshman Josh Seworder and a three point play from Robinson. After a Robinson layup tied the score at 14-14, La Crosse went back ahead with a three pointer, but a pair of free throws and a three from Robinson gave the Eagles their first lead since the opening basket, at 19-17, with 10:00 remaining.

The LaCrosse Eagles connected on a pair of free throws to tie the score, but sophomore Colin Mitchell hit a three pointer, and a Kaden Bates layup pushed the UMW lead to four, at 24-20, with 8:14 remaining in the first. A 7-0 UMW run gave the home side a 31-23 lead with 5:27 on the clock, and a Burgess three with 4:41 left upped the margin to nine, before an 8-0 UW-LC run drew the game back to one, at 34-33.

But UMW answered with an 8-0 run of their own, including an acrobatic layup from sophomore Ulysses Young, to push the lead to eight before a La Crosse basket trimmed the margin to 41-35 at halftime.

Both teams continued to battle in the second half, which started with a Bates three pointer. A 9-0 La Crosse run followed to give them a 48-46 lead with 14:30 left, and the teams traded successful trips up and down the court until a three from Mitchell with 10:31 to go and a layup from Robinson gave UMW a 55-52 advantage. After the teams traded points, La Crosse went on a 6-0 run to lead, 62-57, with 5:40 left.

Robinson then took over with a 9-0 run on his own, with a three point play and back to back long distance shots. A three point play from junior Jay Randall upped the lead to five, at 69-64, with 1:51 remaining, but La Crosse answered to pull back to within one, at 69-68, with 20 seconds left. A pair of Robinson free throws, followed by two more from Seworder, capped the scoring.

Robinson scored 35 points on 12-24 shooting from the floor, with a season-high four three pointers, grabbed 11 rebounds and added a team-high four assists.

Mary Washington shot 26-66 from the floor (39.4%), making 10-33 three point attempts and 11-14 free throws. La Crosse shot 20-47 from the floor (4-19 on three point tries) and went 24-34 from the free throw line. UW-LC led in rebounding, 41-32.

The Eagles will take on the University of Chicago in the elite eight round on Thursday in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Game time has yet to be announced.