TOPEKA, Kan. — The Ichabod men's basketball team led by as many as 27 holding Missouri Western to a season-low 51 points as Washburn used a 36 to 9 run over a 13-minute stretch en route to a 76-51 win over the Griffons on Saturday in Lee Arena. The Ichabods will return to action on New Year's Eve at Central Oklahoma.
With the Ichabods (4-6, 1-3 MIAA) holding a 15-10 lead midway through the first half after a 3-pointer by
Michael Keegan, the Griffons (5-2, 2-1 MIAA) scored six straight points to take their largest lead of the game at 21-15 with 7:26 to play. Washburn responded with a 9-0 run of its own and added to it after three Griffon points to finish the opening half on a 22 to 5 spurt taking a 37-26 advantage in the break.
The halftime intermission did little to cool the Ichabods off as they continued on a 19-4 run out of the breaker the first 8:15 of the second half taking a 56-30 lead with 11:12 to go. Missouri Western had a three-point play by Will Eames with 10:27 to play,
The Griffons would not get with 15 the rest of the way as the Ichabod snapped their three-game losing streak while winning their fifth game in a row over Missouri Western.
Washburn was led by
Tyler Nelson who scored 19 points going 4 of 8 from deep adding seven rebounds, six assists and a career-high six steals playing 37 minutes. Nelson's six steals is the most by an Ichabod since Will McNeill had seven against Missouri Southern on Jan. 31, 2013.
Levi Braun scored 17 points off the bench going 6 of 7 from the field and 5 of 6 from deep while
Michael Keegan scored 14 with four boards.
Brady Christiansen tied a career high with nine points adding 13 rebounds with two assists.
Western was led by Reed Kemp with 15 off the bench.
Washburn finished 30 of 66 from the field holding the Griffons to 17 of 53 shooting. The Ichabod were 12 of 24 from behind the 3-point line starting the game 7 of 15 in the first half. On the glass, the Ichabods out rebounded the Griffons 43 to 30 turning 11 offensive rebounds into 16 points. Washburn also outscored the Griffons 30 to 16 in the paint and forced 16 turnovers scoring 16 points.
