PITTSBURG, Kan. – One game after being held to a season-low 50 points in a Thursday night loss to Missouri Southern, the Washburn Ichabods put up 46 points in the first half en route to a 93-63 win over Pittsburg State on Saturday in John Lance Arena. Washburn returns home to host Fort Hays State on Wednesday in Lee Arena starting a four-game homestand.
 
The Ichabods (6-9, 3-6 MIAA) took a season-high 21-point lead into the break as they shot a blistering 64 percent in the first 20 minutes hitting 9 of 14 attempts from deep going 16 of 32 overall. Using a 23-5 run midway through the frame, Washburn was 8 of 8 from the field including a 5 of 5 showing from deep as Jarmell Johnson scored nine during the Ichabod spurt.
 
After the Ichabods forced a turnover on the Gorillas (2-9, 5-12 MIAA) possession, Pitt State would go on a 10-0 run as the Ichabods were scoreless for 4:54 until Jaden Monday connected on a free throw with 14:55 to go halting the run.
 
After a six-minute drought from the field, Tyler Nelson connected on a 3-pointer with 12:25 to go pushing Washburn back to a 52-39 lead. After a field goal by Michael Keegan, Tyler Nelson recorded a traditional 3-point play with 11:02 to go as the Ichabods went up by 13 at 56-43 and Nelson continued to pace the Ichabod attack with another field goal on the next possession stretching the lead to 15 with 10:37 to go. Washburn pushed the lead to 21 on a 3-pointer by Nelson and all told after the Ichabod lead was cut to 10, Washburn exploded for a 19-2 run with 14 points scored by Nelson and five by Levi Braun.
 
The Ichabods, who won their seventh in a row over Pitt State and fourth in a row in Pittsburg, were led by Nelson with 23 points with 18 in the second half. Washburn outrebounded the Gorillas 39-30 in the game led by Brady Christiansen's 11 rebounds adding 11 points for his first Washburn double double. Joining Nelson in double figures was Johnson who finished with a career-high 16 off the bench hitting 4 of 5 3-pointers, Monday had 15 with a career-high tying six assists and three steals and Braun had 13 hitting three 3-pointers.
 
Deshaun English II led the Gorillas with 15 points.
 
Washburn shot 57 percent in the second half going 17 of 30 after going 1 of 8 during their five-minute scoring drought in the frame to finish at 53 percent for the game going 33 of 62 overall. Washburn hit a season-high 14 3-pointers on 26 attempts for a 54 percent average. The Ichabods were 13 of 18 from the free throw line.
 
Washburn held the Gorillas to 38 percent shooting on 21 of 55 shooting and 8 of 30 from 3-point range as Pitt State was 1 of 12 in the opening half. The Gorillas were 13 of 16 from the free throw line.
 
Washburn outscored the Gorillas 32 to 16 in bench points and 30 to 16 in points off of Pitt State turnovers.