WICHITA, Kan. – The Newman University men's basketball team cruised to a 19-point (92-73) win over Avila University at Fugate Gymnasium on Monday night.
Marshawn Blackmon obtained his sixth double-double of the season with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Ben Ayre recorded a season high 21 points and a game high six assists. Dametrius Walker added 15 points with a season high five assists, while Juwan Davenport recorded 14 points on 6-for-7 from the field. DeAndre Johnson snatched eight rebounds.
Newman jumped out to a 5-0 run with a free throw and pair of layups before the Eagles found the scoreboard with a three pointer. A Blackmon free throw and layup, followed by a jumper and a pair of free throws from Ayre extended the Jets lead to 14-5. The Eagles would answer back with an 8-0 run of their own as the Jets led 21-19 midway through the first half.
A Davenport layup following a steal from Dametrius Walker sparked a late first half surge for the Jets. A Jet three pointer, followed by a Blackmon dunk and an Ayre layup extended the Jets lead to 35-22 with less than seven minutes in the first half. Ayre would continue his stellar first half with a pair of layups and back-to-back three-pointers as the Jets led 49-32 at the half, its largest lead of the game.
The Jets shot an astonishing 63% in the first half going 19-30 from the field. Senior Ayre led the team with 21 points on an impressive 8-10 shooting, including 3-4 from downtown.
After missing the first two field goals of the second half, a Johnson layup started a Jet 7-0 run as Newman would take its largest lead of the game 62-36 at the 15 minute mark. Started by a pair of Walker layups and a couple of three-pointers, the Jets led by as many as 33 points in the second half. Newman would not let up and put the game in cruise control finishing off the eagles 92-73.
The Jets head into the Christmas Break 8-4 on the season and will return play Saturday (Dec. 29) on the road against Rockhurst. Tip-off is schedule for 3 p.m. inside Mason-Halpin Field House in Kansas City, Mo.
