Ichabods Advance to MIAA Tournament Semi-Finals

The Washburn Ichabods rode a hot-shooting second half breaking a halftime tie en route to a 77-58 win over Southwest Baptist in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals in Municipal Auditorium. The Ichabods will be back in action on Saturday at 2:15 p.m. where they will face the winner of Friday’s Missouri Southern/Pittsburg State game.

The Ichabods (23-6) jumped out to a double digit lead in the first 10 minutes of the game stretching the lead to as many as 12 with 9:23 to play after one of Jalen Lewis’ four 3-pointers on the afternoon capping an 11-0 run over 1:20 of the game. However Southwest Baptist finished the half over the final 8:37 on a 16 to 4 run knotting the score at 26 entering the break.

To start the second half, the Ichabods scored the first six points of the frame going to a 10 to 2 run stretching the lead at to eight at 36-28 with 16:46 remaining. Washburn would go on to lead by as many as 22 with 64 seconds to play leading to the win improving to 37-21 all-time in the MIAA Tournament and 18-6 overall in the quarterfinals.

Lewis and Will McKee led the Ichabods with 14 points while Tyler Geiman recorded 10 points adding seven assists and six rebounds. Karim Mouliom led the Bearcats with 15 points and seven rebounds.

Washburn shot 54 percent in the second half after hitting 11 of 35 shot in the first half going 3 of 10 from deep. The Ichabods finished 6 of 12 from 3-point range in the second half. The Ichabods also held the Bearcats to 37 percent shooting in the second half and 39 percent in the game overall.

With the win, it also marked the final game between the Ichabods and Bearcats as MIAA opponents with SBU leaving the league for the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Washburn improved to 5-1 all-time in MIAA Tournament games against Southwest Baptist.