KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The No. 3 Washburn Ichabods collected their second-consecutive 30-win season advancing into the MIAA Tournament Championship game with an 85-69 win over Missouri Western on Saturday in Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium. The Ichabods will face Rogers State in the championship game at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday after the Hillcats' 72-70 win over Missouri Southern.

The Ichabods jumped out to a 15-6 lead starting the game 6 of 11 from the field as Jack Bachleor led with eight early points. Bachelor would go on to score 18 points in the first 20 minutes as the Ichabods took 38 percent shooting including 3 of 14 from three as the Washburn carried a 10-point lead at 41–31 lead into the break.

Washburn (30-1) continued its steady play in the second half, matching Missouri Western basket-for-basket before gradually stretching the advantage to a game-high 22 midway through the frame. The Griffons (21-11) did trim the lead to nine with 4:17 to play, but a 3-pointer from Bachelor sparked a 14-7 advantage for the Ichabods the rest of the stretch as the Ichabods won their seventh in a row over the Griffons in the 16-point win.

Bachelor led the Ichabods with a career- and game-high 27 points. Bachelor connected on seven 3-pointers also adding six assists and three boards.  Brady Christiansen recorded his sixth double double of his Ichabod career with 17 points and 10 rebounds going 7 of 8 from the field and 3 of 4 from deep. Tyson Ruud made his second start of the season and recorded 16 points on 7 of 9 shooting adding five rebounds and a block. Jeremiah Jones scored eight points, and an MIAA Tournament game record of eight steals recording six in the first half alone. Bryson Smith added six points, four assists and two steals. 

The Ichabods were efficient as a team, shooting 49 percent from the field (33-of-68) and 44 percent from three-point range (12-of-27). Washburn also made the most of its opportunities in transition and in the paint, scoring 17 fast-break points and 40 points inside compared to two and 16 respectively for the Griffons.
Missouri Western was paced by Ty Henry, who scored 15 pacing four Griffons in double figures. Missouri Western finished shooting at 44 percent from the field going 9 of 24 from deep.

Washburn also held advantages in second-chance scoring (15 to 2) while outrebounding the Griffons 38 to 30 and forced 16 Western turnovers.

Notes:
• The Ichabods are in their first MIAA Tournament Championship since 2021 and their first one in Kansas City since March 4, 2012 when Washburn topped Pittsburg State 67-63 in the championship game.
• Washburn improved to 5-7 all-time against the Griffons in the MIAA Tournament.
• Washburn is now 46-27 all-time in the MIAA Tournament.
• The Ichabods are looking for their seventh MIAA Tournament title. Washburn's MIAA Tournament titles have come in 1992, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2012 and 2021 … the 2012 title was the only one coming in Kansas City.
• Jeremiah Jones eight steals is also an Ichabod MIAA Tournament single game record snapping Kevin Smith's six from March 2, 1993.
• Washburn is 23-4 all-time in the MIAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed.
• Washburn has faced Missouri Southern only once in the MIAA Championship game falling 80-77 on March 6, 1993 going 2-3 overall in five meetings … the ichabods are 2-0 all-time against Rogers State with both wins coming in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals.