EMPORIA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabod men's basketball team fell in its season opener 71-69 at Emporia State. Washburn will continue MIAA play hosting Rogers State on Dec. 9 at 3 p.m.
 
Washburn trailed 38-27 with 1:30 to go in the first half, but closed on a 7-0 run to enter the locker rooms down 38-32. Washburn then used a 10-2 run over the next 3:23 to take a 42-41 lead.
 
Washburn (4-3, 0-1 MIAA) led 50-45 with 12:18 to go after an Emmanuel Byrd scored eight-straight points. Then the Hornets scored seven of their next eight points from the free throw line cutting the Ichabod lead to one with 8:04 to go.
 
Washburn and Emporia State wet back and forth over their three possessions. A pair of free throws by Sam Ungashick pushed Washburn back in front at 60-59 with 5:47 to lay.  The Hornets built their lead back to three at 64-61, but again the Ichabods came back to go back in front at 65-64 on a driving lay-up by Jarmell Johnson.
 
Andrew Orr scored his 16^th point of the game with 55 seconds to play putting the Ichabods back up 69-66, but a four-point play by Owen Long tied the score up and ESU hit two free throws wrapping up the win.
 
Ungashick led the Ichabods with 21 points leading three total Ichabods in double figures with Orr scoring 16 and Johnson scoring 14. Brady Christiansen had 12 rebounds. Long scored 22 to lead the Hornets.
 
The Ichabods outshot the Hornets 42 percent to 35 percent hitting 25 of 60 overall compared to 17 of 48 by Emporia State (7-1, 1-0 MIAA). However the Hornets were 32 of 40 from the free throw line while the Ichabods were 16 of 18 overall. Washburn also had a 47 to 24 advantage on the glass.
 
Overall there were 12 lead changes and six ties in the game.