EMPORIA, Kan. – The No. 1-ranked Washburn Ichabods scored 15 seconds into the game and never trailed on the way to a 75–64 road victory over Emporia State on Thursday night at White Auditorium. Washburn will be back in action on Saturday at Newman.

Washburn (17-0, 7-0 MIAA) opened the game with an early burst, using a 6–0 run in the first half to grab its largest lead of the opening period at eight points but Emporia State (5-11, 1-6 MIAA) briefly trimmed the deficit, but the Ichabods took a 35–29 advantage into the break. 

Three times in the final nine minutes of the second half, the Hornets cut the Ichabod advantage to three points, but each time the Ichabods kept ESU at arms-length. The final time the Hornets cut it to a one possession lead at 53-50 with 8:34 to go, Washburn came back with a 5-0 spurt closed out by a three-pointer from Dillon Claussen with 7:22 remaining as Washburn went back up eight. 

The Hornets once again rallied and cut the Washburn lead to four at 65-61 with 3:22 to play, but the Ichabods finished off the game on a 10-3 run the remainder of the game building its first double digit lead on the final two free throws from Bryson Smith with 17 seconds to go.

Washburn finished the night shooting 49.1 percent from the field (26-of-53) going 70 percent from the field on two-point attempts (19-of-27) on the night. The Ichabods added seven 3-pointers and went 16-of-25 at the free-throw line. Inside play was a major difference, as Washburn scored 36 points in the paint and added 12 fast-break points, while holding Emporia State scoreless in transition baskets. Emporia State shot 38 percent overall and 29 percent from beyond the arc, while Washburn's defensive pressure limited second-chance and fast-break opportunities. 

Individually, Claussen led Washburn with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting while pulling down seven rebounds scoring 15 points in the second half going 6 of 7 from the field. Smith added 12 points, four assists and four rebounds, going 5-of-7 at the free-throw line. Tyson Ruud provided a strong all-around performance with nine points, nine rebounds and two assists, while Sam Ungashick chipped in nine points and seven boards. Marcus Glock and Jeremiah Jones each added eight points, with Glock knocking down a pair of three-pointers. All nine Ichabods who entered the game scored.

Notes:
• The Ichabods swept the regular season series with the Hornets for the second season in a row.
• The Ichabod defense held the Hornets to 66 and 64 points in the two meetings this season.
• The 17-game winning streak by the Ichabods is the fifth-longest in program history, trailing 25, 23, 22 and 19.