By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's men's basketball team scored a whopping 98 points, including 25 from Ichabod standout Andrew Orr.
But Washburn's work on the defensive end might have been the biggest bright spot in Saturday afternoon's 98-50 non-conference romp past Avila at Lee Arena.
Washburn junior Andrew Orr, working inside against Avila Saturday, scored a game-high 25 points in the Ichabods' 98-50 win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn went into Saturday's game allowing 77.2 points per game, including 76 points in Tuesday's 97-76 win over Ottawa.
But Brett Ballard's 4-2 Ichabods wrapped up their non-conference slate with by far their stingiest defensive outing of the year, allowing 16 fewer points than they had in any of their previous five games.
"This team was similar to Ottawa and we knew that coming into today, so we knew that if we wanted to have the confidence that we needed to go play Emporia State (on Saturday), we needed to hold (Avila) to a very low number and 50 is a pretty low number in an entire basketball game,'' Orr said.
"At Washburn Ballard loves defense, so as long as we can keep our defensive pressure on, that's really what matters.''
The Ichabods drew Ballard's ire after giving up 76 to Ottawa, but the WU coach was in a lot better spirits Saturday.
"I'm happy,'' Ballard said. "I thought we were a little more connected on 'D' and strung together some good defensive possessions and got stops, which is good, and offensively we got some good things done.''
Orr, a 6-foot-8 junior, hit 10 of 13 shots from the field and all five of his free throw attempts while also grabbing six rebounds.
Washburn sophomore Jarmell Johnson goes to the floor to come up with a loose ball in Saturday's 98-50 Ichabod win over Avila. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior Michael Keegan goes to the hoop in Saturday's 98-50 Washburn win over Avila. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sophomore Jarmell Johnson had 15 points while Michael Keegan and Sam Ungashick had 10 points apiece and freshman Brayden Shorter came off the bench to score a career-high 11 points.
The Ichabods shot 57.1 percent from the field and 77.3 percent from the free throw line while out-rebounding the Eagles 44-34 and commited just 11 turnovers while dishing out 19 assists.
Keegan led Washburn with seven rebounds while freshman Jack Bachelor had a game-high five assists and Shorter had three steals.
Eleven Ichabods cracked the scoring colum and seven canned 3-pointers.
"I do think we've got a good offensive team and guys that can make shots and make plays, so offensively I think we'll be hard to guard but we've certainly got to continue to get better on that defensive end because ultimately you've got to hang your hat on that,'' Ballard said.
George Williams led Avila with 11 points.
The Ichabods will open their MIAA schedule next Saturday against Emporia State in a 3:30 p.m. game at White Auditorium.
WASHBURN MEN 98, AVILA 50
Avila 21 29 -- 50
Washburn 41 57 -- 98
AVILA (1-3)
Williams 4-9 1-2 11, Scruggs 0-3 0-0 0, Smith 2-6 0-0 5, Majeed 3-12 0-0 7, Combs 0-4 1-2 1, Ross III 0-4 0-0 0, Boldt 3-5 0-0 6, Lee III 1-4 1-3 3, Miller 4-5 0-0 9, Kilpatrick 1-4 0-0 2, Goins 1-3 2-4 4, Larson 0-2 0-0 0, Pittia 1-4 0-0 2 Totals 20-65 5-11 50.
WASHBURN (4-2)
Christiansen 1-4 0-0 3, Orr 10-13 5-5 25, Johnson 6-9 1-2 15, Ungashick 4-7 0-1 10, Keegan 3-3 3-4 10, Shorter 3-6 4-5 11, Byrd 3-9 0-0 6, Schadegg 2-3 2-3 6, Bachelor 1-2 2-2 4, Dajani 2-3 0-0 5, Braun 1-4 0-0 3, Eman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-63 17-22 98.
3-point goals -- Avila 5-24 (Williams 2-7, Smith 1-2, Miller 1-2, Majeed 1-5, Ross III 0-2, Larson 0-2, Combs 0-1, Boldt 0-1, Kilpatrick 0-1, Pittia 0-1). Washburn 9-21 (Johnson 2-2, Ungashick 2-4, Keegan 1-1, Christiansen 1-4, Shorter 1-3, Braun 1-4, Dajani 1-2, Schadegg 0-1), Rebounds -- Avila 34 (Boldt 7), Washburn 44 (Keegan 7, Orr 6, Byrd 6, Christiansen 6). Assists -- Avila 5 (Five players with 1), Washburn 19 (Bachelor 5). Turnovers -- Avila 17, Washburn 11. Total fouls -- Avila 20, Washburn 11. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none.
