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TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods forced 17 first half turnovers and held Missouri Western to seven first half field goals as the ichabods won their third straight game and for the seventh time in the last eight games in a 79-55 win over the Griffons. Washburn will look for its fourth straight win when they take on Central Missouri in a New Year's Eve game in Warrensburg.

The Ichabods led from start to finish in the game as Washburn (8-3, 3-1 MIAA) came out hitting 14 of 30 shots in the opening stanza while the Griffons coughed up the ball 17 times leading to 24 points off turnovers. Washburn's Will McNeill scored 15 of his 20 points in the first half including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the halftime horn staking the Ichabods to a 40-24 lead at the break. The difference for the the Ichabods in the first half was a 21-2 run puthsing the score from 11-10 with 11 minutes left in the half to a 32-12 lead with 4:05 to play in the frame.

In the second half, the Griffons (6-5, 1-4 MIAA) came out and cut the lead to six at 42-36 going on a 12-2 runo ver the first 3:40 of the half, but the Ichabods pushed the led back to 11 before the Griffons again cut the lead to seven at 47-40 with 14:07 to play in the game. However the Ichabods used a 19-5 run to stretch the lead to 18 and eventually to as many as the final margin of 24 in the win.

Alex North and McNeill tied for game-high honors with 20 points each. Martin Mitchell scored 14 points. Bobby Chipman had a game-high seven rebounds tying career highs with four assists and three blocks.

Alex Tuluka-Mfumupembe led the Griffons with 12 points, going a perfect 4-4 from the 3-point line.

Washburn recorded 38 points off of Missouri Western turnovers while recording 16 steals in the game.