By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 2-ranked Washburn Ichabods left no doubt in a record-setting performance on Saturday afternoon, rolling to a 115-30 victory over Ottawa in Lee Arena as the Ichabods improved to 8-0 on the season.
Sophomore Dillon Claussen scored a game-high 20 points on 7 of 11 shooting from the field in Saturday's 115-30 Washburn win over Ottawa. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior Jeremiah Jones scored 18 points on 8 of 10 shooting and grabbed six rebounds in Washburn's 115-30 win over Ottawa Saturday in Lee Arena. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn dominated in most every phase of the game, shooting 58 percent from the field, forcing 33 turnovers and outscoring the Braves 64-10 in the paint.
"I thought we respected the opponent and we were able to take their confidence away early, which is what you want to do against a team that you feel like you're probably a little more talented than,'' Washburn coach Brett Ballard said.
"I'm really happy with how we came out, business-like, and the respect level was there and then we took their confidence, so all three phases were good.''
The Ichabods will remain in Lee Arena next week to open their MIAA schedule, hosting Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday and Fort Hays State on Saturday.
After a brief 3-2 Ottawa lead, the Braves' only advantage of the day, Washburn went on a 19-0 run to take control.
By halftime the Ichabods had turned 23 Ottawa turnovers into 30 points, taking a huge 60-17 advantage into the break behind 52 percent shooting from the field and an 8-of-17 mark from 3-point range.
The second half was even more overwhelming as Washburn opened the period with a 26-0 run that ballooned the margin to 86 points, the team's largest lead of the day.
The Ichabods shot 66 percent in the final 20 minutes and registered 14 more steals and 30 additional points off turnovers.
Sophomore Dillon Claussen finished with 20 points, six rebounds, five steals, and two blocks while going 7 of 11 from the field.
Ichabod junior newcomer Jeremiah Jones added 18 points on 8-for-10 shooting, pulled down six rebounds and said he continues to feel more and more at ease in the Washburn system.
"It's definitely a stepping stone every game,'' Jones said. "No matter the competition I feel like the chemistry goes up every single game, our defensive intensity goes up every single game and I'm starting to get comfortable with the team.''
Junior Jack Bachelor scored 16 points with four 3-pointers in Washburn's 115-30 win over Ottawa Saturday in Lee Arena. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior Jack Bachelor recorded 14 points with four 3-pointers and six assists as the Ichabods drilled 13 three-pointers on the afternoon.
Sophomore Tyson Ruud slams home a dunk in Washburn's 115-30 win over Ottawa Saturday in Lee Arena. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sophomore Tyson Ruud came off the bench to score 13 points and grab a game-high seven rebounds while Marcus Glock hit three threes and also finished with 13 points.
Senior Sam Ungashick had eight points (two 3s), six assists, and five steals as Washburn's bench accounted for 49 points.
Defensively, the Ichabods held Ottawa to just 10-for-44 shooting (22.7 percent), including 5-for-23 from three, and limited the Braves to two second-chance points and two points in the paint in the second half. Washburn won the rebounding battle 47-24 and finished with 22 steals -- its most in a game this season.
The 85-point winning margin is the largest in Washburn program history, topping the 77-point difference against Manhattan Christian on Nov. 30, 2017 in a 128-51 win.
The 30 points allowed by the Ichabods is the fewest by an opponent in the shot clock era since Peru State scored 41 against Washburn on Nov. 16, 2009 in a 71-41 win.
The 115 points by the Ichabods was the eighth-highest total in the shot clock era.
The Ichabods swiped a school-record 22 steals in the game, topping the previous high of 21 against Peru State on Nov. 16, 2009.
Washburn has now won 19 home games in a row – the fourth-longest streak in the nation and the sixth-longest streak in Washburn program history.
WASHBURN 115, OTTAWA 30
Ottawa 17 13 -- 30
Washburn 60 55 -- 115
Ottawa (5-3) -- Martelly 3-5 0-0 6, Barbieri 1-4 0-0 3, Lewis 0-2 0-0 0, Reech 0-1 0-0 0, Tyler 0-2 1-2 1, Esary 0-5 0-0 0, Harding 2-3 0-0 5, Lawson 1-2 0-0 2, Williams 0-1 0-0 0, Hepner 0-2 0-0 0, Bryant 0-1 0-0 0, Rollins 1-5 2-2 5, Erhabor 1-5 0-0 3, Assiff 0-0 1-2 1, Russell 1-4 1-2 4, Winscot 0-2 0-0 0, Williams 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 10-44 5-8 30.
Washburn (8-0) -- Christiansen 2-7 1-1 5, Claussen 7-11 6-10 20, Smith 4-9 0-0 9, Bachelor 5-7 0-0 14, Jones 8-10 0-0 18, Ruud 6-8 0-0 13, Ungashick 3-4 0-0 8, Glock 4-10 2-2 13, Wilkins 2-4 0-1 4, Cook 0-1 0-1 0, Salmon 1-2 0-1 2, Saams-Hoy 3-4 1-1 7, Lewis 1-2 0-0 2, Parker 0-0 0-0 0, Ballard 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 42-80 14-25 105.
3-point shots -- Ottawa 5-23 (Barbieri 1-3, Harding 1-2, Rollins 1-4, Erhabor 1-3, Russell 1-2, Martelli 0-1, Lewis 0-1, Esary 0-2, Lawson 0-1, Hepner 0-2, Bryant 0-1, Winscot 0-1), Washburn 13-25 (Bachelor 4-6, Glock 3-8, Ungashick 2-3, Jones 2-2, Ruud 1-1, Smith 1-3, Christiansen 0-1, Salmon 0-1). Rebounds -- Ottawa 24 (Three players with 3), Washburn 47 (Ruud 7, Claussen 6, Jones 6). Assists -- Ottawa 7 (Seven players with 1), Washburn 29 (Bachelor 6, Ungashick 6). Turnovers -- Ottawa 33, Washburn 7. Total fouls -- Ottawa 16, Washburn 12. Fouled out -- none.
