WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The No. 2-ranked Washburn Ichabods will head into the holiday break at 12-0 (3-0 MIAA) after a 70-52 win over Central Missouri in 2024 calendar year. Washburn returns to action on Jan. 4 at Emporia State in two weeks finishing off its fourth consecutive conference game to start the MIAA slate.
 
The Ichabods started the game on a 6-0 run two-plus minutes into the contest and built the early lead up to 9-1 holding the Mules without a field goal for the first 4:53 of the game. The Mules twice led by four in the first half, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Sam Ungashick and Jack Bachelor doubled up the UCM score at 20-10 with 11:54 to play in the frame.
 
Washburn used a 10-0 run over two minutes to take a 30-12 lead with 9:00 to play in the opening half. A jumper by Bachelor and a fast break dunk by Andre Orr wrapped up the scoring in the frame.
 
Midway through the second, Washburn scored nine-straight points to go up 20 at 54-34 with 10:43 remaining. Washburn would lead by as many 22 with 4:14 to play on a Shorter jumper as the Mules scored the final five points of the game pulling UCM within 18 at the final buzzer.
 
Shorter led the Ichabods with 17 points adding seven boards and three steals pacing Washburn hitting 4 of 9 3-pointers. He led four Ichabods in double figures followed by Orr with 16 points on 7 of 9 shooting adding two blocks. Jacob Hannah had 15 with six rebounds and three assists and Bachelor tallied 13 points, five boards, five assists and three steals.
 
Jake Fritz was the only Mule (6-6, 1-2 MIAA) to reach double figures with 12 points.
 
Washburn outrebounded the Mules 38 to 24 and outshot the Mules 54 percent (25 of 46) to 36 percent (19 of 53). Washburn also outscored the Mules 36 to 18 in the paint in the win.