KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Washburn Ichabods swept all three games from Emporia State this season and moved into the MIAA Tournament semifinals to face Central Oklahoma at 6 p.m. on Saturday night with their 88-81 win over the Hornets in Municipal Auditorium. Washburn improves to 20-9 on the season while the Hornets end their at 20-9.
 
The game was tied at the break at 35 before the Hornets used an 11-7 run to take a 48-42 lead with 16:38 to play. Washburn responded with a 20-5 over a 5:34 stretch scorching the nets hitting 7 of 9 shots from the field connecting on all 3-point attempts led by Jalen Lewis' eight points during the run building a 62-53 lead. Lewis would go on to score the Ichabods' next nine points as Washburn pushed the lead to 11 at 71-60 as the lead would be as many as 13 with 6:30 to play.
 
In a game of runs, the Hornets came back with a 12-2 run spurt of their own to trim the lead to three at 75-72 with 3:04 to go. ESU cut the lead to three a total of three more times with the last coming 79-76 with 1:44 to play before Tyler Geiman buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key sending Washburn to an 82-76 lead and Washburn would hit 6 of 8 free throws in the final 41 seconds to move into the MIAA semifinals.
 
All five Ichabod starters reached double figures and Geiman and Lewis both finished with 20 points. All of Lewis' points came in the second half as he hit 7 of 9 shots and 3 of 4 from deep. Connor Deffebaugh scored 14 points while Michael Keegan scored 12 and Jonny Clausing finished with 11. Clausing added eight rebounds and Geiman had seven assists.
 
ESU was led by Jumah'Ri Turner who had a game-high 23 points and Tray Buchanan finished with 22.
 
Washburn finished 30 of 55 from the field hitting 16 of 27 second half shots for a 59 percent average going 54 percent for the game. Washburn hit 19 of 26 free throws and 9 of 17 from deep. Emporia State was 25 of 61 from the field for a 41 percent clip and was 12 of 38 from deep and 19 of 25 from the free throw line.
 
Washburn had a 40 to 24 advantage in the paint and 17 to 6 in fastbreak points.
 
Notes:
• Washburn moved to 5-1 against ESU in MIAA Postseason tournament games
•The Ichabods are 42-23 all-time in the MIAA Championship Tournament.
•The Ichabods are now 21-7 in the tournament quarterfinals.
•In MIAA Tournament games played in Kansas City, the Ichabods are now 17-13.
•In quarterfinal games played in Kansas City, the Ichabods are now 10-5. In semifinal games played in Municipal the Ichabods are 5-3.
•The Ichabods recorded the program;s 30th 20-win season and the fourth under Ichabod head coach Brett Ballard.
• Tyler Geiman tied Keith Downing for the most appearance in Washburn history with 137 against Emporia State.
•Ballard moved to 7-2 all-time against Emporia State.
•The Ichabods have won their last four MIAA Tournament games and Ballard moved to 8-3 in MIAA Tournament games.