TOPEKA, Kan. – The No. 2-ranked Washburn Ichabods delivered its highest point output of the early season, overwhelming Friends University 105–51 on Tuesday night at Lee Arena. The Ichabods controlled all 40 minutes, building a 25-point halftime lead before exploding for 59 more points in the second half to remain unbeaten at 7–0. The Ichabods will host Ottawa on Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Ichabods (7-0) forced 30 Falcon turnovers, turning those mistakes into 29 points, while surrendering only six turnovers of their own. Washburn piled up 66 points in the paint, 33 second-chance points, and 25 fast-break points, dominating the interior and pushing tempo on every rebound and steal.
Washburn shot 52.5 percent for the game (42-for-80) and hit 7-of-27 from three, while holding Friends to just 28.3 percent shooting overall and 25 percent from beyond the arc. The Ichabods hammered the Falcons on the glass as well with a 52–35 rebounding advantage, grabbing 21 offensive rebounds scoring 33 second-chance points.
Offensively, the scoring balance was overwhelming.
Dillon Claussen led the way with 19 points, shooting 9-of-11 while adding six rebounds, two steals, and a block.
Jack Bachelor followed with 16 points, six assists, five steals, and three rebounds, hitting four threes and controlling the game at both ends.
Bryson Smith added 14 points, three assists, and three steals.
Off the bench,
Tyson Ruud tied a career-high with 13 points, four rebounds, three blocks, and a steal.
Amalachi Wilkins gave Washburn powerful minutes inside with 12 points, eight rebounds, and four offensive boards in 15 minutes of play reaching double figures for the second-straight game.
Marcus Glock scored eight points and hit two threes;
Brady Christiansen added six points, four rebounds, and three assists; and
Jeremiah Jones finished with nine points, six rebounds, three assists.
Washburn built early separation with a 6–0 start and stretched the lead to double digits within the first seven minutes. A late first-half surge, highlighted by multiple steals and transition finishes, pushed the margin to 25 at the break, 46–21.
The second half brought even more separation. Washburn opened with an 11-0 run, fueled by Ruud and Claussen around the rim, and the Ichabods' lead reached 50 points with more than five minutes remaining. Washburn held its largest lead at 55 points in the final minute before closing out the 54-point win.
Friends (5-2) was led by Collin Maclin's six points and a team-high four rebounds, but the Falcons managed only 18 points in the paint, nine second-chance points, and three fast-break points while committing 15 turnovers in the second half alone.
