TOPEKA, Kan. – The No. 1 Washburn Ichabods used a stifling defense in the second half turning a six-point halftime lead into a 25-point win over Emporia State in a 91-66 victory in their first action of the calendar year improving to 14-0 overall and 4-0 in MIAA play. The Ichabods will return to action on Jan. 7 facing Missouri Western in St. Joseph, Mo.

Washburn carried a 45–39 lead into halftime after a first half featuring four lead changes and five ties. The Ichabods shot 56.7 percent in the opening 20 minutes and closed the half on a late 10-1 run, scoring in transition and from deep to create separation. Washburn also controlled the tempo early by outscoring Emporia State 24-12 in the paint and 15-4 on fast breaks in the first half.

In the second half, it was all Washburn. The Ichabods opened the half with a 10-0 run in the first two minutes, forcing turnovers on consecutive possessions and converting them into quick baskets pushing the lead to 52–39. Washburn matched its first half shooting at 56.7 percent after the break and connected on 7-of-11 from three-point range, stretching the advantage to as many as 28 points late in the game.

Jeremiah Jones paced Washburn with a career-high 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. He added four assists and four steals. Dillon Claussen finished with 16 points, four steals and three blocks and Jack Bachelor scored 16 points as well, hitting four 3-pointers, while dishing out nine assists with one turnover. Brady Christiansen led the ichabods with eight boards.

Washburn's bench outscored the Hornet bench 29 to 25 with Marcus Glock adding10 points and five rebounds while Tyson Ruud contributed nine points and three rebounds, and Sam Ungashick provided six points while hitting a pair of three-pointers. The Ichabods finished with 23 assists on 34 made field goals overall.

The Ichabods also won the interior battle, outscoring Emporia State 44-20 in the paint turned 18 Hornet turnovers into 41 points recording 14 steals and three blocks while limiting the Hornets' second-half opportunities.
Emporia State was led by Chris Harris with 19 points and Andrew Pengel had 11.

The Ichabods shot 56.7 percent from the floor (34-of-60) for the game knocking down 12 three-pointers at a 48.0 percent clip, while holding the Hornets to just 36.0 percent shooting in the second half.

Notes:
• Washburn won its third game in a row over the Hornets.
• The Ichabods have now won 23-games in a row in Lee Arena tying for the third-longest streak in program history trailing 28 games (11/19/93 to 2/8/95); 24 games (2/12/03 to 12/5/04) and 23 games (11/19/93 to 2/8/95).
• Washburn's 23-game homecourt winning streak is third in the nation behind Nova Southeastern's 94 wins and Miles' 24 wins.
• Washburn's14-game winning streak is tied for the eighth-longest in program history.
• Dillon Claussen tied a career-highs with five assists and four steals.
• Jeremiah Jones tied a career high with eight field goals made and set a new high with four 3-pointers.