By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn University men's basketball team got of couple of monkeys off its back in Saturday's 82-66 wire to wire victory over Rockhurst in Lee Arena.
Washburn sophomore Sam Ungashick had a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds in Saturday's 82-66 home win over Rockhurst. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Brett Ballard's Ichabods bounced back from back-to-back losses, including a 15-point Tuesday night loss at William Jewell, andthe snapped a two-game losing streak against Rockhurst, which had won three of the previous four and five of the previous seven games in the series.
"It was good for our guys,'' Ballard said. "I think we've played some good competition but ultimately winning is the best medicine, so we can feel good about this one.
"I thought our guys executed the game plan well, were locked in, and I'm happy for them.''
Washburn improved to 39-1 all-time in home-openers, including its 33rd in a row.
With the win Washburn evened its record at 2-2 and will back be back at home at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to host Ottawa.
Washburn freshman Jack Bachelor comes up with a steal in Saturday's 82-66 win over Rockhurst. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn used a 12-1 spurt midway through the first half to build a 23-11 lead off, capped by a 3-pointer by Washburn Rural product Jack Bachelor, who scored eight points during the Ichabod run.
Rockhurst (1-3) cut the lead down to five at 32-27 with 3:21 to go in the opening half, but Washburn closed the half with a 12-5 run to take a 44-32 lead into intermission.
Washburn shot 59 percent in the first half on 17 of 29 shooting while holding Rockhurst to 34 percent on nine of 26 shooting.
A Hawk 3-pointer by Brian Hawthorne pulled Rockhurst within 10 at 59-49 with 13:13 remaining, but a 10-0 Ichabod run pushed the lead to 20 and Rockhurst did not get closer than 13 the rest of the way.
In addition to a game-high 21 points, sophomore Sam Ungashick added a game-high eight rebounds and tied for a game-high with five assists. He finished eight of 13 from the field.
Washburn junior Andrew Orr dunks the ball for two of his 12 points in Saturday's 82-66 win over Rockhurst. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn sophomore Brady Christiansen goes high to put in two of his 11 points Saturday against Rockhurst. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn had three other players in double figures, with Andrew Orr scoring 12, Brady Christiansen 11 and Bachelor scoring 10 with five assists.
"This was a huge win,'' Ungashick said. "Coach Ballard was stressing the importance of Kansas City teams, Kansas City rivalry, and we had a recruit here today this win was huge and I'm just really excited that we got this win.''
Hawthorne led the Hawks with 15 points.
Washburn finished 31 of 59 from the field (53 percent) and the Hawks were 21 of 60 for (35 percent). Washburn also held a 42-31 advantage on the glass. The Ichabods outscored Rockhurst 42-14 in the paint and 30-17 in fastbreak points.
WASHBURN MEN 82, ROCKHURST 66
Rockhurst 32 34 -- 66
Washburn 44 38 -- 82
ROCKHURST (1-3)
Brown 2-8 3-6 9, Felici 1-1 0-0 3, White 4-9 2-2 13, Hawthorne 6-12 2-4 13, Arensberg 2-6 0-0 5, Clarey 1-5 0-0 3, Kakushadze 2-3 4-4 8, Auer 1-6 0-0 3, DeGroote 0-1 1-4 1, Thaci 2-6 0-0 6, Kacuoi 0-0 0-0 0, Loggins 0-1 0-0 0, Abuladze 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 21-60 12-20 66.
WASHBURN (2-2)
Christiansen 4-7 2-2 11, Orr 6-9 0-0 12, Johnson 0-3 0-0 0, Ungashick 8-13 2-2 21, Keegan 2-4 2-4 6, Shorter 1-3 0-0 2, Byrd 3-7 2-2 8, Schadegg 2-7 2-3 8, Bachelor 4-5 1-1 10, Dajani 1-1 2-4 4. Totals 31-59 13-18 82.
3-point goals -- Rockhurst 12-34 (White 3-6, Brown 2-5, Thaci 2-6, Felici 1-1, Hawthorne 1-2, Arensberg 1-2, Clarey 1-5, Auer 1-5, Kakushadze 0-1, Abuladze 0-1), Washburn 7-21 (Ungashick 3-7, Schadegg 2-6, Christiansen 1-3, Bachelor 1-2, Johnson 0-1, Keegan 0-1, Shorter 0-1), Rebounds -- Rockhurst 31 (Thaci 7), Washburn 42 (Ungashick 8, Christiansen 7). Assists -- Rockhurst 10 (Three players with two), Washburn 18 (Ungashick 5, Bachelor 5). Turnovers -- Rockhurst 10, Washburn 11. Total fouls -- Rockhurst 15, Washburn 16. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- Rockhurst bench.
