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.
Senior Brady Christiansen grabbed a game-high eight rebounds to go with six points, including a 4 of 5 showing at the free throw line.
Lucas Hammeke carried the Fort Hays State offense with a game-high 24 points on 7 of 11 shooting and he went 8 of 10 at the line.
The Ichabods will return to action next Saturday, hosting Central Missouri at 3 p.m. in Lee Arena.
WASHBURN 73, FORT HAYS STATE 66
Washburn 33 40 -- 73
Fort Hays State (5-3, 0-2) -- Mukuna 3-7 2-3 8, Lawson 0-1 0-0 0, Grill 3-6 2-2 9, Hammeke 7-11 8-10 24, Martino 3-9 2-2 8, Ramirez 1-3 0-0 3, Kante 3-5 0-0 6, Danitschek 3-4 0-0 8. Totals 23-46 14-17 66.
Washburn (10-0, 2-0) -- Christiansen 1-5 4-5 6, Claussen 7-10 7-8 21, Smith 6-11 9-10 22, Bachelor 2-11 2-4 7, Jones 0-5 1-2 1, Ruud 2-5 0-0 4, Ungashick 1-4 1-2 3, Glock 2-5 1-3 6, Wilkins 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 22-58 26-36 73.
3-point shots -- Fort Hays State 6-12 (Danitschek 2-3, Hammeke 2-3, Grill 1-3, Ramirez 1-2, Mukuna 0-1), Washburn 3-19 (Smith 1-2, Glock 1-4, Bachelor 1-6, Ruud 0-1, Ungashick 0-1, Jones 0-2, Christiansen 0-3). Rebounds -- Fort Hays State 26 (Martino 6), Washburn 38 (Christiansen 8). Assists -- Fort Hays State 6 (Ramirez 3), Washburn 11 (Bachelor 6). Turnovers -- Fort Hays State 21, Washburn 16. Total fouls -- Fort Hays State 23, Washburn 15. Fouled out -- Grill. Technical foul -- Grill. Attendance -- 1,924.
