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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Washburn Ichabods advanced to their first MIAA Tournament finals since the 2010 season after defeating Fort Hays State 67-54 in Municipal Auditorium. Washburn will face Pittsburg State in the championship game at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The Ichabods led at the break 31-29 after shooting 46 percent in the half while the Tigers were 10 of 24 from the floor hitting 5 of 15 3-point attempts. There were four ties and four lead changes in the first stanza.

With Washburn leading 33-31 in the second half with 18:51 to play, the Ichabods put together a 15-2 run over the next seven minutes in which the Ichabods hit six of seven from the field pulling out to a 15-point lead and the Tigers would not get closer than 12 with just over a minute to play.

The Ichabods were led by Will McNeill who scored 12 of his game-high 23 points in the second half. He finished 8 of 12 from the floor hitting 6 of 8 free throws. Zack Riggins joined McNeill in double digits with 10 points. Martin Mitchell scored seven with a career-high six rebounds and Bobby Chipman scored six with seven rebounds.

Kendrick Morese scored 13 to lead the Tigers.

Washburn shot 61 percent in the second half connecting on 13 of 21 shots finishing 26 of 49 attempts from the field for a 53 percent average. The Tigers were 8 of 27 from the field in the second half going 8 of 51 for the game.

Notes
* Washburn improved to 10-7 all-time in the MIAA semifinals.
* Washburn is now 1-0 against the Tigers in the MIAA Tournament.
* Washburn improved to 11-7 in MIAA Tournament games in Kansas City.
* Washburn will be looking for its first MIAA Tournament title in Kansas City.
* The Ichabods are 0-3 in MIAA Tournament finals in Kansas City. (Lost to Missouri Western in 2003, Northwest Missouri in 2004 and Nebraska Omaha in 2010.)
* Overall Washburn is 4-5 in MIAA Tournament finals.
* The Ichabods won the MIAA Tournament during the 1992, 1994, 1997 and 2001 seasons.
* Will McNeill has 72 steals this season, one shy of Bobby Sumler's single-season record of 73 set during the 1986-87 season.
* Washburn is now 31-15 in the MIAA Tournament with head coach Bob Chipman recording all the wins - the most by any coach in tournament history.
* The Ichabods are looking for the fifth MIAA Tournament title - which is the most of any program.