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Andrew Meile led all scorers with 24 points and a career-high six 3-pointers in leading the Ichabods to a 71-61 win over Northwest Missouri Wednesday night in Lee Arena. Washburn (16-8, 8-7 MIAA) locked up a spot in the MIAA tournament and remained in a tie for fifth in the league while the Bearcats (17-7, 9-6) remained third in the conference.

The Ichabods will stay at home and look for their fifth straight win with a Saturday game against Emporia State, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Andrew Meile made his first five shots, including four 3-pointers. He finished the night 7 of 9 from the field and 6 of 8 from 3-point range. He was also 4 of 4 from the free throw line and he tied a career high with five steals.

Grant Hargett was 5 of 9 from the field for 15 points and Darnell Kimble added 10 points off 4-of-6 shooting. Mario Scott and Kyle Snyder led WU with five rebounds each and Scott led with four assists.

The Icahbods led by seven at halftime, 36-29, but the Bearcats opened the second period on a 7-0 run to tie the score in less than three minutes. They then built the lead to as much as six points before Meile hit a 3 at 7:09 to tie the score at 52-52.

After two more ties Meile hit another 3-pointer with 2:30 remaining and the Ichabods held the lead the rest of the way.

With 44 seconds remaining James Williams blocked a shot from NWMSU's Andy Peterson. Scott grabbed the rebound and ran it down to the other end of the court for the fast break layup to give WU a 67-58 lead.

The Ichabods were 8 for 8 from the free throw line the final 1:03 of the game and Snyder's two from the stripe with 16 seconds left made it a 13-point game that sealed the season sweep over the Bearcats. Northwest Missouri's Hunter Henry converted a three-point play in the final seconds to make it a 10-point victory.

Washburn shot 50 percent in the game and 41 percent from 3-point range. Despite the solid shooting from the free throw line in the final minute, the Ichabods finished with a 57 percent effort from the line.

The Bearcats shot 40 percent and won the rebound battle 33-30. Peterson and Matt Withers led them with 14 points each.


Notes
• In the 83rd meeting between the two teams, Washburn improved to 52-31 in the all-time series and swept the Bearcats for the first time since 2004-05.
• Andrew Meile and Grant Hargett started at guard and Paul Byers, Darnell Kimble and Kyle Snyder started at forward. This is the third straight time this combination has been used and the five are 3-0 when starting together. Meile and Byers have started all 24 games this year and Meile has started 64 straight games. His last non-start was December 30, 2005, at Truman.
• Washburn improved to 14-0 when leading at the half, 13-1 when leading with five minutes left and 10-1 at home.
• The Ichabods shot 50 percent as a team, reaching the 50 percent mark for the first time since January 30. The Ichabods had lost two straight when shooting 50 percent or better until this game and are now 6-2 when doing so.
• With six 3-pointers, Meile moved to a tie for seventh in career 3s at Washburn, now with 149. Eric Carter also hit 149 from 1997-01. Meile needs 10 more 3s to move into a tie with Jordan Canfield (1992-97) with 159. Meile also hit six 3s, a career high, February 13 against Southwest Baptist.
• Meile had five steals to total 107 in his career. He is ninth in WU career history and he needs two more to move into a tie with Mike Dickerson (1986-90) with 109. His five steals tied his career high, set on December 20, 2006 at Lynn.
• Washburn was out-rebounded (33-31) for the first time since February 6 against Missouri Southern and this was just WU's third win when having less rebounds.
• Washburn locked up a spot in the MIAA Postseason Tournament in Kansas City, Mo., from March 7-9. The Ichabods are making their first trip there since 2004-05.