UNK MBB: Lopers Fall to Unbeaten and #1 Washburn

The top-ranked Washburn Ichabods had four starters score in double figures and was plus 17 on the glass to down Nebraska Kearney, 97-64, Saturday evening in Topeka.

Coming in with 22-point average margin of victory, WU improves to 21-0 (12-0) and takes the season series from the Lopers (7-12, 5-6).

UNK battled in both halves, trailing 22-18 about 11 minutes into the action and then senior reserve guard Tre’Vion Crawford (Omaha Bryan) hit a triple to make it 64-51 with 12 minutes left. However, Washburn had a 25-13 spurt to close the first half and 30-6 run during an eight-minute stretch after the break.

“It’s the urgency in their organization and it’s a well-oiled machine. (Coach Brett Ballard) has had a lot of these guys for three, four years and they know exactly what to do,” said UNK head coach Marty Levinson. “Their intuition is unique and that’s why they are number one in the county and undefeated. They know each other’s strengths; they find the ball and deliver it on time.”

Senior guard Jacob Hanna (20) and sophomore guard Jack Bachelor (18) carried the load in the first half with senior post Andrew Orr (20) getting going after intermission. This trio combined for 58 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists and five steals. For added measure, sophomore wing Brayden Shorter hit three triples to score 11.

“We did a good job of battling them in the first half but they kind of wore us down in the second half. They out rebound everybody, and we’ve struggled at times rebounding the ball. And we felt like that was the difference in their run,” said Levinson.

Washburn shot 48% from the field while sinking 25 of 33 free throws. Seventeen offensive boards led to 17 second chance points with UNK shooting 36% (8 of 22) in the second half and committing 16 turnovers overall.

Graduate guard Allen Taylor (Bradley, Ark.) had a team-high 20 points on 7 of 16 (4 of 9 threes) shooting. He had 14 first half points and added five boards and four steals. This is his seventh time scoring between 20-22 points this winter.

“Back (at Southern Arkansas Tech) Allen was huge in regional championships and at the national tournament. In his freshman year in Danville, Ill. (NJCAA Championships) he made the all-tournament team when we got third in the country,” said Levinson. “That’s what he does; he’s a gamer. Proud of him and we’re going to need more of that if we’re going to reach our goals and make the MIAA Tournament.”

Next, Omaha senior wing Chase Thompson had 15 points thanks to four buckets and 6 of 6 free throwing shooting with Mullen redshirt freshman reserve Clayton Moore providing a season-high 11 points (4 of 4 FT’s) and three boards in 13 minutes of work.

UNK plays six of its final eight regular season games in the Health & Sports Center. MIAAA first-year member Arkansas-Ft. Smith visits Thursday night; the Lions (8-12, 2-9) fell today at home to Pitt State, 76-71.