PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods shot 71 percent from the field in the second half missing only six shots en route to a 76-63 win over Pittsburg State on Wednesday night in John Lance Arena.
In the second half with the Ichabods leading 54-54,
Javion Blake hit a 3-pointer to push the Ichabods up four and then layups by
Cameron Wiggins and
Brady Skeens stretched the lead to eight at 62-54 with 8:27 to play. After a pair of free throws by Josiah Gustafson, the Ichabods ripped off a 19-6 to go up 14 at 74-60 with 3:59 to play in the game.
The Gorillas would get no closer than 11 the rest of the way after a 3-pointer with 1:46 to play as the Ichabods picked up the 12-point win as Washburn (7-2, 3-1 MIAA) won its 14th game in the last 16 meetings over Pittsburg State (7-4, 2-3 MIAA). Washburn was 15 of 21 in the second half from the field scoring 46 points while hitting all six 3-point attempts.
The score was tied 29-29 at the break after the Gorillas led by as many as eight points in the opening stanza at 25-17 with 9:59 to play. However the Ichabods outscored the Gorillas 12-4 the rest of the half to tie the score. Wiggins scored five points during the run for Washburn as the Ichabod defense forced five Gorilla turnovers. Washburn was 11 of 31 for a 36 percent clip in the first half while the Gorillas were 10 of 27 for a 37 percent average.
Wiggins led the Ichabods with a career-high 26 points hitting all six 3-pointers going 8 of 13 from the field overall.
Javion Blake scored 19 dishing out four assists and
Brady Skeens had 10 points with eight rebounds along with four steals and two blocks.
Robert Christopher led the Ichabods with 10 rebounds and
Randall Smith had six assists scoring two points.
Gustafson led the Gorillas with 14 points.
Washburn finished the game shooting 50 percent from the field going 26 of 52 overall hitting 9 of 15 3-point attempts. Washburn outrebounded the Gorillas 40 to 27 overall and outscored Pitt State 28 to 12 in the paint. The Gorillas were 18 of 49 from the field for a 37 percent average while hitting 10 of 19 shots from 3-point range.
The Ichabods will be back on the road playing their final game of the 2015 calendar year at Missouri Southern on Saturday starting at 3 p.m.
