By KYLE MANTHE
The Washburn Review
Entering the game at 2-3, the banged-up Washburn men’s basketball team looked to get right with a Saturday matchup against Benedictine College, which was playing the game as an exhibition.
The game included 11 lead changes before the Ichabods were able to pull away down the stretch for a 79-69 win.
“I liked our response,'' Washburn coach Brett Ballard said. "There was some adversity we went through tonight. I thought we responded the right way.''
Connor Deffebaugh tied for game-high honors with 17 points in Washburn's 79-69 win over Benedictine. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
The win moved Washburn to 3-3 on the year with conference play set to begin next week.
Each side got off to a hot start offensively, with Washburn led by freshman Michael Keegan, who knocked down two early triples. The Ravens countered by attacking downhill and getting to the free throw line eight times in the first 10 minutes to take a lead.
The Ichabods' defense ramped up late in the half, holding Benedictine scoreless for a four-minute period. Washburn was only able to build a three-point lead in that time, thanks to two 3-pointers by junior Jalen Lewis who finished with 16 as the game was left at 33-30 after 20 minutes.
Out of the break the Ravens came out firing, knocking down four 3-pointers in the first five minutes. The Ichabods would have several players respond with key runs, beginning with senior Jeremy Harrell who scored seven of his own in the first five.
Benedictine continued to draw contact, taking the lead with just under 10 minutes to play after four straight free throws due to a technical foul.
Washburn did the same on the other end, going to the line 14 times in the second half after only shooting one in the first. Freshman Azeem Ross took six foul shots over a six-minute stretch, knocking down five and putting the Ichabods in front.
“The free throw thing we got to get cleaned up, we are still minus by a lot on the year in the free throw category and even in this game against an NAIA team,” Ballard said. “I thought that teams do a better job of taking the fight to us a little bit, but I did like the fact that we were a little more aggressive.”
Next it was sophomore Connor Deffebaugh’s turn to take over, as he scored seven points in only three possessions on his way to 17 in the game. The burst made it a seven-point game with just over three to play.
“My teammates have been giving me confidence all year, coach has been trying to give me confidence just to be aggressive and attack and lead the team. So when I found the opportunity I just had to assert myself and try to make something happen,” Deffebaugh said.
“I really like how we responded, played really, really, well from about the four-and-a-half-minute mark to the one-minute mark,” Ballard said. “I like how we dug in, played together and got the stops we needed and had good possessions.”
A step-back jumper by Keegan, who scored a career-high 17, made it an 11-point game with 1:52 remaining which is all the cushion Washburn would need to close the game out, 79-69.
Keegan and Deffebaugh each led the way with 17, while Lewis added 16, eight rebounds and five assists. Keegan also recorded eight rebounds along with three triples.
“It’s been fun, we got guys down, that are on the way back and somebody’s gotta step up and make something work to keep this thing moving.” Deffebaugh said. “There’s not a lot of opportunities to play at home so it was fun to compete and get a win.”
For the Ravens, former Topeka High product Nysir Scott finished with seven points, four rebounds and two assists.
The win evened out the Ichabods record at 3-3 with conference play set to begin Dec. 1 when Fort Hays State visits Lee Arena.
BENEDICTINE MEN 64, WASHBURN 61
BENEDICTINE 33 36 -- 69
Washburn 36 43 -- 79
BENEDICTINE (6-3 Saturday counted as exhibition)
Temme 11, Krus 7, Jackson 2, Bristol 10, Austin 23, Scott 7, Cathy 4, Thurston 0, Adese 3, Lewis 2. Totals 20-54 18-23 69.
WASHBURN (3-3)
Orr 4, Thorne 5, Deffebaugh 17, Lewis 16, Keegan 17, Monday 0, Harrell 7, Ellis 0, Carter 3, Braun 3, Ross 7. Totals 28-56 13-15 79.
3-point shots – Benedictine: 11-31 (Temme 1-2, Krus 1-7, Jackson 0-2, Bristol 2-7, Austin 6-10, Scott 1-3). Washburn: 10-22 (Thorne 1-2, Deffebaugh 1-2, Lewis 2-5, Keegan 3-4, Monday 0-1, Harrell 1-3, Carter 1-2, Braun 1-2, Ross 0-1). Rebounds – Benedictine 27 (Temme, Krus 5), Washburn 38 (Lewis, Keegan 8). Assists – Benedictine 13 (Bristol 4), Washburn 15 (Lewis 5). Turnovers – Benedictine 10, Washburn 12. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – Washburn (Ross 1).
