HAYS, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods jumped out to a 16-0 lead 4:19 into the game, but Fort Hays State responded with a run of its own later in the half and would hold off the Ichabods down the stretch rallying for an 89-82 win.

The Washburn Ichabods (8-1, 0-1 MIAA) hit their first three 3-pointers jumping out to a 9-0 lead and stretched the lead out to 27-9 with 9:09 to play in the first half as the Ichabods hit 11 of their first 16 shots from the field including 5 of their first seven from 3-point range.

The Tigers (6-3, 2-1 MIAA) chipped away cutting the lead to 11 at 29-18 with 7:32 to play after back-to-back 3-pointers of their own. After trading 3-pointers, the Tigers hit another one from deep and after a turnover cut the lead to nine at 32-23 with 5:40 to play in the half. Another 3-pointer by the Tigers cut the lead to six at 32-26 with 4:59 to play in the frame.

The 21-5 run which brought the Tigers back saw them hit 7 of 10 shots from the field including all four 3-point attempts while the Ichabods were 2 of 9 from the field with three turnovers.

Overall from the runs from the two teams included a 27-9 run by the Tigers the final 10:07 of the game and a 21-2 run the first six minutes of the game.

Washburn took a 36-34 lead into the break after the Tigers tied the score at 34 with 21 seconds, but a jumper off the glass by Isaac Clark put the Ichabods up two as Washburn hit 14 of 31 shots for a 45 percent average and the Tigers were 11 of 26 for a 42 percent average.

The Tigers jumped out to a 49-45 lead with 14:53 to play in the game however Washburn came back to take the lead at 56-55 with 12:06 to play before the Tigers retaking the lead back at 57-56 leading to Washburn going back in front 58-57 after a lay up by Emeka Ogbonna.

With the score tied at 67, the Ichabods came up empty on their next possession and Rob Davis converted a 3-point play to put the Tigers up 70-67 with 4:40 to go in the game.

FHSU went up four with four minutes to play, before a bucket by Brady Skeens cut the lead in half at 72-70 with 3:45 to play.

Following an Ichabod timeout, the Tigers hit a pair of free throws going up four with 3:15 left. Washburn hit one of two free throws and a long jumper by the Tigers stretched the lead to five with 2:36 to play. Washburn came up empty on its next trip down the court. The Tigers were fouled on their next possession but missed the front end of a one and one. 

Cameron Wiggins hit a lay up with 1:42 left to cut the lead to three, but the Tigers hit both free throws going back up five with 1:40 to go.

Skeens hit one free throw with 1:33 left to cut the lead to three, but a lane violation on the Ichabods pushed the lead back to four. The Tigers then would hit a 3-pointer from the corner to back up seven with 1:11 to play.

A 3-pointer by Wiggins on Skeens' career-high eighth assist pulled the Ichabods back within four at 81-77.

A pair of free throws by the Tigers again pushed FHSU up six with 47 seconds to play. Washburn cut the lead back to four at 83-79 after a lay up by Randall Smith.

Washburn fouled and the Tigers hit both free throws going up six and Washburn would miss its next attempt and the Tigers ran out the clock for the six-point win.

Washburn had five players in double figures led by Wiggins' 21 points followed by Skeens' fifth double double of his season and 15th of his career with 19 points and 12 rebounds adding a career-high eight assists and five blocks. Ogbonna, making his first start of the season, scored 11 points as did Smith. Javion Blake scored 10 points.

Washburn shot 50 percent in the second half and finished 48 percent for the game going 30 of 63 from the field. Washburn was 13 of 20 from the free throw line in the game.

The Tigers were led by Aaron Nicholson's 22 points and Hadley Gillum's 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Tigers were 26 of 58 in the game and hit 25 of 26 free throws shooting six more and hitting 12 more in the game than the Ichabods.
 
Washburn is back in action on Saturday at Nebraska-Kearney.