KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The No. 10-ranked Washburn Ichabod men's basketball team opened the 2024-25 season with an 89-71 win over Sioux Falls as the squad put six players in double figures in the win. Washburn returns to Kansas City on Saturday at 3 p.m. to face the No. 1-ranked Minnesota State Mavericks.
 
The Ichabods jumped out to a 12-2 lead 3:13 into the game after Andrew Orr scored his sixth point of the night en route to a game-high 21 on 9 of 11 shooting. Washburn stretched the lead to as many as 21 with under three minutes to go at 49-28 before taking a 54-37 advantage into the break.
 
In the second half, the Ichabods (1-0) stretched their lead to as many as 25 twice during the frame en route to an 18-point win improving to 3-0 against the Cougars all-time including 2-0 in Kansas City.
 
Orr paced the Ichabods with 21 points scoring 14 in the first half. He led six Ichabods in double figures followed by Jack Bachelor's 16, Brady Christiansen's and Dillon Claussen's 12, Michael Keegan's 11 points and Jacob Hanna's 10 points. Hanna and Christian each had nine rebounds and Hanna added  five assists. Christiansen had five steals as the Ichabods had 14 in the game compared to seven for Sioux Falls (0-1).
 
Brandon Hrncir had 16 to lead the Cougars.
 
Washburn finished 32 of 67 from the field and 6 of 17 from deep hitting 19 of 23 free throw attempts. USF was 27 of 56 overall and 7 of 18 from 3-point range. Washburn also held a 40 to 30 advantage on the glass and outscored the Cougars 46 to 38 in the paint turning 14 offensive rebounds into 16 second-chance points. Washburn forced 21 Cougar turnovers leading to 26 Ichabod points.