By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Former Hayden standout Levi Braun tied his career-high with 21 points on seven 3-pointers, but a mid-second half shooting slump and a hot shooting Henderson State team was too much for the Ichabods in Friday's season-opener as Washburn fell 79-73 at the Central Region Challenge in Municipal Auditorium.
Levi Braun tied his career-high with 21 points in Washburn's season-opening loss to Henderson State Friday. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn will wrap up the two-day event on Saturday at 7 p.m., facing No. 18-ranked Augustana.
The Ichabods led by eight at 46-38 with 14:43 to play after a jumper by Zaid Dajani, but over the next five-plus minutes Henderson State would go on a 19-4 run to take a 59-50 lead with just over nine minutes to play.
Washburn (0-1) trimmed the lead to 60-55 with 6:01 to play but again Henderson State (1-0) pushed out to an 11-point lead before the Ichabods cut the lead to six near the end of the game.
Washburn led 36-29 at the half paced by Braun's 15 points on 5 of 7 shooting from 3-point range en route to a career-high-tying 21-point night, matching the 21 he scored against Baker on Nov. 20, 2021.As a team Washburn was 12 of 28 in the half hitting 7 of 14 from deep.
In the second half, Washburn was 15 of 32 overall, but the Readies heated up, going 18 of 33 overall and 6 of 10 from deep helping HSU to the win.
Braun finished 7 of 9 from 3-point range and Connor Deffebaugh scored 15 points and Andrew Orr scored 10. Michael Keegan had eight rebounds and Brady Christianen had seven.
Washburn finished 27 of 60 overall from the field, going 10 of 22 from deep and 9 of 14 from the free throw line. Henderson State was 29 of 66 overall hitting 8 of 21 3-pointers and 13 of 23 free throws.
Henderson State also held a 45 to 31 advantage on the glass, turning 18 offensive rebounds into 14 second chance points, and scoring 18 points off of 15 Ichabod turnovers.
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