TOPEKA, Kan. – The No. 1-ranked Washburn Ichabods stayed unbeaten and in control Friday night, rolling past Missouri Western 90–78 at Lee Arena behind efficient shooting, balanced scoring and several timely runs that kept the Griffons at arm's length. The Ichabods will be back in action on Thursday at Fort Hays State, beginning a three-game road trip.

The Ichabods (20-0, 10-0 MIAA) weathered an early back-and-forth stretch that featured six ties and one lead change in the opening minutes before exploding offensively. After Missouri Western briefly led 3–0, Washburn responded with a surge fueled by transition baskets and inside touches, eventually stretching the margin to as many as 22 points late in the first half turning an Ichabod 42-30 lead with 5:34 to go in the frame, to a 22-point lead with 2:44 to play in the half on a 12-2 run going up 54-32.

However, Missouri Western closed the half on a 10-2 run, trimming the Washburn advantage back to 14 at 56-42. The Ichabods shot a scorching 81.5 percent from the field and 75 percent from deep in the opening period, building the lead.

Missouri Western (13-8, 5-5 MIAA) made multiple pushes in the second half, trimming the deficit into single digits midway through the period, but every run was answered. A sequence of interior buckets and fast-break finishes helped Washburn stabilize the lead, and a late push pushed the margin back into double figures down the stretch. The Ichabods finished with 25 fast-break points and 48 points in the paint, consistently beating the Griffons down the floor and attacking the rim.

Washburn placed eight players in the scoring column with several delivering standout performances. Dillon Claussen led the way with 18 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting while adding six rebounds and four assists. Sam Ungashick provided a major spark off the bench, knocking down shots in transition and finishing with 17 points on 7 of 9 shooting from the field. Tyson Ruud chipped in 15 points and five rebounds, while Bryson Smith contributed eight points and a game-high six assists. Marcus Glock added seven points and Jeremiah Jones finished with nine points, five rebounds and three steals.

As a team, Washburn shot 63.2 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from three, turning 20 Missouri Western turnovers into 20 points. The Ichabods also dominated bench production, outscoring the Griffons' reserves 39 to 9.

Missouri Western was led by Ty Henry and William Kiburis with 19 points apiece, while Noah King added 13.

Notes:
• With the win, Washburn cemented its 32nd, 20-win season in program history and the sixth under head coach Brett Ballard in his ninth season on the Ichabod bench.
• The now 25-game homecourt winning streak is tied for second for the longest in program history, trailing only the 28-game streak from Nov. 19, 1993 to Feb. 8, 1995.
• Bryson Smith tied a Washburn-high with six assists.
• The Ichabods have now won six in a row against the Griffons overall moving to 8-2 in the last 10 games and have won the last five matchups in Topeka.