KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The No. 11-ranked Washburn Ichabods opened the 2021-22 season with an 86-65 win over No. 15-ranked Northern State in historic Municipal Auditorium on Friday afternoon in Kansas City. The Ichabods will return to the court on Saturday facing Augustana.
With both teams starting off slow scoring only a combined 10 points at the first media timeout of the day the Wolves jumped out to a six-point lead at 11-5 before the Ichabods used a 12-1 run to go up 17-12 at the next media timeout. The Ichabods stretched the lead to as many as six in the opening half after a 3-pointer by
Jeremy Harrell with 7:32 to play in the frame but the Wolves (1-2) rallied to tie the score at 24 before the Ichabods again jumped out to a five-point lead after another three by Harrell.
Michael Keegan hit a layup with 67 seconds left in the first half to round out the scoring sending Washburn to the break with a 2-point lead at 31-29.
To start the second half, the Ichabods scored seven points of the half forcing a timeout by Northern State but the Ichabods would build their lead up to 14 after a layup by
Andrew Orr stretching the lead to 46-32 with 15:15 to go.
Northern State trimmed the lead back to as few as four at 52-48 a 16-3 run by the Ichabods pushed the lead to 17 with and the Wolves did not get any closer than 18 the rest of the game.
Jalen Lewis led the Ichabods with a game-high 18 points going 7 of 12 overall and 4 of 7 from deep. He scored 16 points in the second half. Harrell finished with 17 points hitting five 3-pointers in 10 attempts.
Michael Keegan scored 13 points and
Jaden Monday scored 10 adding five assists.
Cole Bergan and Jacksen Moni each had 11 to pace the Wolves.
The Ichabods shot 49 percent from the field for the game hitting 19 of 32 shots in the second half for a 59 percent clip. Washburn was 14 of 29 overall from 3-point range and hit 8 of 11 free throws.
Northern State was held to 37 percent shooting by the Ichabods and were forced into 18 turnovers while the Ichabod committed just six turning the Wolves miscues into 25 points.
