By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 2-ranked Washburn University men's basketball team made its 2025-26 season debut Saturday, charging past Augusta 101-53 in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, Fla.
Junior Jack Bachelor tied a career high with 25 points, including five 3-pointers, in Saturday's 101-53 Washburn win over Augusta. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods never trailed and leding for 39:51 of the 40 minutes.
The defensive energy set the tone early as the Ichabods forced 16 first-half turnovers, converting them into 15 fast-break points and sprinting to a 56-25 halftime advantage.
Washburn completely suffocated Augusta in the paint, holding the opponents to just six points inside the lane in the first 20 minutes while pouring in 34 of their own around the rim.
On the offensive end, Washburn shot 53 percent from the field (41-77) for the game while drilling eight 3-pointers.
Meanwhile, the defense frustrated Augusta into 30 percent shooting overall, including just 6-for-30 from beyond the arc.
Junior Jack Bachelor drilled five 3-pointers on the way to a game-high 25 points, tying a career high, while adding six assists.
Sophomore Dillon Claussen delivered a dominant double-double, scoring a career-high 22 points and adding 13 rebounds and two blocks.
Claussen recorded 19 first-half points to top his career-high of 17 last season set against Lenoir-Rhyne in the NCAA National Quarterfinals.
Jeremiah Jones had 13 points, five assists, and eight steals – one shy of the school record. Brady Christiansen finished with 10 points and nine rebounds as Washburn demolished Augusta on the boards, 53-30.
WU got 31 points off the bench, including 10 points from Kade Cook on 5-for-7 shooting for a career-high.
The Ichabods' largest lead was 48 points in the closing minute.
The Ichabods will wrap up the two-day event against No. 3-Dallas Baptist at 12:15 pm CST on Sunday. The Patriots fell to No. 13-ranked Michigan Tech 75-70 in overtime on Saturday.
