Box Score TOPEKA, Kan. - The No. 3-ranked Washburn Ichabods saw their season come to an end Saturday evening as Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs held off a late push for a 64-62 win in the 2025-26 NCAA Central Regional at Lee Arena. The Ichabods end the season 31-2 winning the MIAA regular season and tournament championships.

Minnesota Duluth led 32-29 at halftime and survived a strong second-half surge by the Ichabods, who outscored the Bulldogs 33-32 over the final 20 minutes but could not overcome a cold shooting night from beyond the arc.

Washburn (31-2) was led by Bryson Smith with 15 points while adding five assists and two steals. Tyson Ruud scored 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting and pulled down three rebounds. Brady Christiansen, Jack Bachelor, and Isaiah Saams-Hoy each finished with eight points for the Ichabods.

Washburn struggled from three-point range, finishing just 3-of-18 (16.7%) going 1 of 13 in the opening half, but found success in the paint where it outscored Minnesota Duluth 40-20. The Ichabods also forced several transition opportunities, holding a 13-5 edge in fast-break points.

Minnesota Duluth (22-11) placed three players in double figures, led by Matt Thompson and Caleb Siwek with 13 points each, while Noah Paulson added 12 points and six rebounds. The Bulldogs shot 47.8 percent from the field and knocked down 9-of-23 three-pointers, helping offset Washburn's advantage inside.

The Bulldogs built their largest lead of the game at 12 points midway through the second half, but Washburn responded with a 15-point run to take a three-point lead with just over nine minutes remaining. The Ichabods continued the rally to tie the score with 2:23 to play and take the lead on a traditional 3-point play, putting Washburn up 58-56.

The Bulldogs went up 62-59 with after a pair of free throws with 24 seconds left and cut the lead to one with eight seconds to play after Bachelor was fouled on a 3-point attempt. UMD hit two free throws with five seconds to play and Washburn's attempt on a rebound off an intentional miss went the way of the Bulldogs, finishing up the game.

Washburn finished the game shooting 42.6 percent (23-of-54) from the field and 13-of-21 at the free throw line, while Minnesota Duluth went 22-of-46 (47.8%) from the floor and 11-of-17 from the line.

Minnesota Duluth advances in the NCAA Central Regional to take on the winner of the St. Cloud/Missouri Western game at on Sunday night.

Notes: 
• Jack Bachelor ended the season with 95 3-pointers – third on the Ichabod single season chart.
• Jeremiah Jones' 103 steals is the school single season record.
• The Ichabods' 289 3-pointers were third on the Ichabod single season chart trailing only the 293 from 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons.
• The 793 3-point attempts is the most in an Ichabod single season.
• The 615 assists were tied for third on the Ichabod single season chart and the most in a single season since 629 during the 2000-01 season.
• The Ichabods' 363 steals this season topped the runner-up tally of 317 during the 1991-92 season.
• Jack Bachelor moved into 14th on the Ichabod career scoring chart with 1,319 points.
• Brady Christiansen finished his Ichabod career with 908 career points for 39th all-time at Washburn and his 778 career rebounds is fifth all-time.