TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabods fell for only the second time in Lee Arena ending the regular season with an 80-76 loss to Emporia State on Saturday afternoon. The Ichabods will now start the postseason on Friday at 6 p.m. when they will face Rogers State in Kansas City at Municipal Auditorium. The Ichabods are the No. 4 seed in the MIAA postseason tournament.
 
The Ichabods (18-10, 14-8 MIAA) led 46-32 at the break over the Hornets after shooting 49 percent from the field holding ESU (19-11, 12-10) to 32 percent shooting in the opening frame.
 
In the second half, the Ichabods stretched their lead to as many as 19 with 16:24 to play. The teams traded baskets and with the Ichabods leading 58-41 after a layup by Andrew Orr, the Hornets used a 14-2 run pulling within five at 60-55.
 
Washburn went back up 10 with 6:07 to go with a layup by Sam Ungashick, but ESU's Owen Long would hit four 3-pointers in a 14-4 run tying the score at 70 with 1:50 to play.
 
Two free throws by Ungashick put the Ichabods back up by two with 69 seconds to play, but ESU's Long scored the next five points for the Hornets putting ESU up four with 33 seconds left. A driving layup by Ungashick with eight seconds to play pulled the Ichabods within one at 77-67, but the Hornets hit all three of their free throws to seal the comeback win.
 
Ungashick's 18 points led four Ichabods in double figures with Andrew Orr scoring 17 with Brayden Shorter scoring 12 and Michael Keegan scoring 10. Orr also had five assists and Keegan had nine rebounds.
 
Long led ESU with 36 points scoring 26 in the second half.
 
Washburn finished 27 of 59 from the field shooting 46 percent for the game going 6 of 19 from deep and 16 of 18 from the free throw line. ESU  was 24 of 53 overall hitting 12 of 22 3-pointers and 20 of 25 free throws.
 
Washburn held a 37 to 26 advantage on the glass turning 13 offensive rebounds into 18 second chance points.