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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

No. 2-ranked Washburn University's two closest games of the season have something in common, a clutch performance down the stretch from senior guard Bryson Smith.

Senior Bryson Smith scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half Saturday as Washburn Improved to 10-0 with a hard-earned 73-66 win over Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Smith scored 18 of his team-high 22 points in the second half while hitting 9 of 10 free throws in the final 20 minutes as Washburn stayed perfect on the season with a 73-66 win over Fort Hays State in Lee Arena on Saturday afternoon.

The Ichabods, 10-0 overall and 2-0 in the MIAA, trailed 34-33 at halftime and the game was tied at 58 with five minutes left before the Northeastern State transfer scored 11 points over the final 2:38, including a 7 of 8 showing at the free throw line in the final 46 seconds as the Ichabods held off the Tigers (5-3, 0-2).

"I feel like I'm one of the guys on the team that can be a closer for this team and help us get the win down the stretch and make good plays,'' Smith said.

Saturday's performance was reminiscent of Smith's early-season performance against Rockhurst when Smith scored 19 of his 22 points after after halftime and scored the go-ahead basket as WU rallied from a five-point deficit with 2:29 to play to take an 85-81 win.

"He's a good player and we knew that coming in,'' Washburn coach Brett Ballard said. "He's one of those guys that in these big games, he's not afraid of the moment.

"The thing with Bryson is he gets downhill and he's athletic enough to go finish. Sometimes you just need a guy to go create his own and that's kind of what he did tonight.''

Ballard first took notice of Smith and what he could do last season when Smith scored 10 points with 11 assists and three steals as Northeastern State handed Washburn an 88-84 defeat, one of only two regular-season losses for the Ichabods.

And when Smith entered the transfer portal, the Ichabods knew they wanted him on their side.

"We couldn't guard him, so we said, 'If you can't beat him, join him,' '' Ballard said with a laugh.

"I thought I controlled that game in the second half, so I feel that's why I'm here now,'' Smith said. "Coach saw that and wanted me to be here.''

Sophomore Dillon Claussen scored 21 points, including 13 in the first half of Saturday's 73-66 Washburn win over Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Smith's big second half came after WU sophomore star Dillon Claussen scored 13 of his 21 points in the first half to carry the Ichabods.

Claussen went 7 of 10 from the field on the day and went 7 of 8 at the free throw line, grabbed six rebounds and registered four steals.

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By VINCE LOVERGINE

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural's boys basketball team opened the 2025-2026 campaign at home Friday against Blue Valley Southwest with the student section decked out in their Christmas Spirit, coming out with a win, 64-45.

 

Senior Simon Rowley led Washburn Rural with 17 points in Friday's 64-45 win over Blue Valley Southwest. [File photo/TSN]

Both teams took a little bit to get some points on the board. The game was tied at 7-7 after the Wolves took a 10-7 lead off a triple. They would push their lead to four but Washburn Rural closed the gap to 13-12 after one quarter.

In that first quarter, Rural finished a couple of steals, but you could tell they were a little sped up at times. Something that lacked in that first half and really all game was Washburn Rural knocking down its free throws.

 

“I thought it looked like the first game,” Washburn Rural coach Alex Hutchins said. “Pretty sloppy at points. I thought we played with a lot of energy early. I would’ve loved to finish some plays in transition, some of the free throws, too.

 

"I thought we were a little frantic on defense early and then settled in as the first half went on. We’re going to have to make more shots early and I think it was good the defense was good in the second and third quarter to weather some of that.”

To open the second quarter, Brooks Ballard hit a shot from distance to make it 15-13 off an inbounds play. John Hoytal was making plays happen down low, grabbing rebounds and finishing at the rim and drawing fouls.

 

Rural would jump out to a 20-13 lead after Draden Chooncharoen nailed a 3-pointer from the left corner pocket and senior Simon Rowley put some distance between the teams with a couple of buckets in the winding ticks of the first half as the Junior Blues took the 27-19 lead into the break.

 

Washburn Rural only allowed six points in the second quarter.

The Junior Blues came out at halftime with good energy and pace and eventually pulled away from the Wolves.

 

Hoytal put Rural up 36-23 from distance and finished with 13 points on the night but Rowley scored seven points late in that third quarter, including banking in a three.

“Coach just says keep going, keep pounding and finding a way,” Rowley said. “I just tried to get the guys in a good positive mindset. I know I started off slow. I set the tone for the team so I had to have a better mindset when I was out there and encourage my teammates more and they all feeded off me and we were just eating.”

 

But after that Rural went up 19 after back-to-back buckets from Rowley, who finished with 17 points. Chooncharoen hit two more 3-pointers down the stretch to finish with nine and put the nail in the coffin.

 

“I thought our execution was decent, we just didn’t finish the opportunities. Hopefully that’s just the first game jitter stuff and we can shake that off. A good first night,  but more to build on,” Hutchins said.

 

WASHBURN RURAL BOYS 64, BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST 45

Blue Valley Southwest 13 6 10 16 -- 45

Washburn Rural           12 15 18 19 -- 64

 

Blue Valley Southwest (0-1) - Taylor 1-1 0-0 3, Bonczynski 1-3 1-2 4, William Abraham 1-2 0-0 2, Putzier 2-3 1-1 5, Steele 1-1 0-0 2, Geisler 1-1 0-0, 3, Ferguson 2-2 0-0 6, Wesley Abraham 4-8 3-4, 12, Carlisle 3-3 0-0 8.

 

Washburn Rural (1-0) -- Rowley 7-15 2-8 17, Nimz 0-2 0-2 0, Ballard 3-3 0-0 8, Wright 2-5 1-3 3, Hoytal 3-9 6-6 13, O’Conner 1-3 1-2 3, Chooncharoen 3-5 0-2 9, Bradley 2-2 0-0 4, Schmidt 2-4 1-2 5. Totals 23-48 11-25 64.

3-point field goals -- Washburn Rural 7 (Chooncharoen 3, Ballard 2, Rowley, Hoytal).  BVSW 8 (Ferguson 2, Carlisle 2, Bonczynski, Taylor, Giesler, Wesley Abraham). Total fouls -- Washburn Rural 14, Blue Valley Southwest 23. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none. 

 

 

 

 

 

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The Washburn University soccer team will be in St. Louis Saturday for a 1 p.m. Elite Eight matchup against Missouri-St. Louis.

Aubrey Tanksley, Washburn

"We are all looking forward to (Saturday) and another chance we get to continue to grow together as a group,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "Our ladies have been really good about leaning into our core values, and I'm expecting that to inspire another really positive performance for us.

"UMSL is well coached and a good team. (Saturday) should offer everything that an Elite 8 matchup should offer."

Washburn, 13-3-6, is coming off a 1-0 win over No. 4-seed St. Cloud State on Sunday to become Central Region champions for the second time in program history.

Washburn has 13 clean sheets this year, which is third most in program history.

Aubrey Tanksley scored the game-winning goal from a corner taken by Bricelyn Betts, which Tanksley headed home in the 75th minute.

Washburn goalkeeper Lili Everley has the second-most shutouts in a season in Washburn history, with 11.

The Tritons(15-4-2) are the No. 7 seed from the Midwest Region, beating crosstown rival and No. 4-seeded Maryville, 2-1 to advance to the Elite Eight.

UMSL leads the all-time series with Washburn, 3-1.

The two teams met earlier this season, with the Tritons taking a 3-0 decision in St. Louis.