KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Cougar men's basketball team (0-1, 0-0 NSIC) opened their season with a tough neutral-site battle against Washburn (1-0, 0-0 MIAA) on Friday afternoon, ultimately falling 89-71 in the first game of the Central Region Challenge.
GAME RECAP
First Half
The game tipped off with a strong opening from Washburn, who was picked to finish first in the MIAA from coaches within their league. Within the first two minutes, Washburn's Andrew Orr scored on a layup, quickly followed by a fast-break dunk from Michael Keegan. The Ichabods were up 10-2 before Sioux Falls had a chance to establish their offense. But the Cougars responded, led by Creighton Morisch who secured a defensive rebound and put in a fast-break layup to shift the tempo. Brandon Hrncir, coming off the bench, injected fresh energy, scoring a timely jumper to bring USF closer at 12-6.
Shawn Warrior began asserting himself on both ends, with a steal and an assist to Morisch for another layup. Washburn pushed back, however, capitalizing on Cougar turnovers with an 8-0 run. Jack Bachelor hit a three-pointer at the 15-minute mark, extending Washburn's lead to 20-10. Every time Sioux Falls fought back, Washburn's consistent inside presence and rebounding edge added to the Cougars' uphill battle.
Yet, the Cougars weren't done. Warrior once again came through with a jumper, assisted by Kyle Ingwerson, to keep USF within 10. Hrncir connected on a three-pointer, and Josh Baker blocked a layup on the other end, which led to another fast break and a Morisch layup, putting the score at 28-20. But the Ichabods unleashed another 10-2 run, largely from their efforts in the paint, and maintained their lead until halftime, with the Cougars trailing 54-37.
Second Half
The Cougars returned from the locker room determined to close the gap. Right from the whistle, Hrncir hit a three-pointer assisted by Jacoby Mehrman, narrowing the lead to 54-40. Sioux Falls dug in defensively, with Morisch blocking a layup attempt by Washburn's Keegan, then grabbing the rebound. Moments later, Warrior scored a fast-break three, assisted by Taylen Ashley, as USF clawed back to within 10 points. The scoreboard read 58-48 with just over 15 minutes left, and the Cougars' intensity sparked hope for a comeback.
However, Washburn's size advantage soon took its toll. Their relentless rebounding and second-chance points kept Sioux Falls from closing the gap further. Despite Hrncir hitting another three-pointer and a quick jumper in the paint, the Cougars couldn't fully stop Washburn's offensive machine. An 8-0 response by Washburn pushed their lead back to 18 with 10 minutes to go.
Still, Sioux Falls pushed on. Warrior sank a three-pointer off another assist by Ashley, and Mehrman found Morisch under the basket for a quick layup. The Cougars capitalized on a pair of free throws from Kenji Scales, but Washburn's Orr delivered key points in the paint to stretch the margin again. With just under five minutes left, Hrncir struck one last jumper, but the clock was ticking, and the Cougars ultimately ran out of time to mount a full comeback.
TEAM HIGHLIGHTS
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Three-Point Shooting: Sioux Falls was strong from beyond the arc, shooting 38.9% (7-of-18) compared to Washburn's 35.3% (6-of-17). This solid shooting from three allowed the Cougars to counter Washburn's inside game, particularly in the first half when Sioux Falls went on several mini-runs to close the gap.
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Turnovers and Points off Turnovers: Turnovers were a defining factor. Sioux Falls committed 21 turnovers, leading to 26 points for Washburn, who capitalized on the extra possessions. In contrast, Washburn had just 11 turnovers, which Sioux Falls only converted into 8 points.
KEY COO
UP NEXT
The Cougars will stay in Kansas City for their second matchup of the Central Region Challenge, where they face off against Southern Arkansas at 7pm in Municipal Auditorium.
For all things USF Men's Basketball, be sure to download the USF Cougars app as well as follow along on Instagram and Twitter!
