Ichabods Hold Off Pesky Griffons

The Washburn Ichabods wrapped up the No. 2 seed at the MIAA Basketball Championships in a 93-90 thriller over Missouri Western on Senior Day in Lee Arena. With the win the Ichabods finish the regular season at 22-6 and 15-4 in the MIAA and will open the MIAA Tournament on Thursday at 2:15 p.m. in Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium against the winner of the No. 7-seeded Lindenwood/No. 10-seed Southwest Baptist match up which will be played on Wednesday.

Making his second start of his career, senior Emeka Ogbonna scored the Ichabods’ first seven points of the game as the Ichabods jumped out to a 7-2 lead and then after a layup by fellow senior Javion Blake would lead 9-2. The Griffons scored five straight points cutting the lead to two, but Ogbonna scored again with his ninth point of the game en route to tying his career high of 11 scored against Fort Hays State in his first start of his career during the 2016-17 season.

The Ichabods led by as many as 13 in the first half at 26-13 before the Griffons ripped out a 22-8 run over the next five minutes to take a lead of 35-34 for their first lead of the game. Washburn scored 11 of the final 15 points of the first half to take a 46-43 lead into the break.

Washburn opened the second half on an 18-5 run to build a 64-48 lead with 13:02 to go in the game, but the Griffons, who finished the season with a 12-18 record going 6-13 in the MIAA, would rally and cut the lead to three times in the final 6:28 including under four twice in the final 50 seconds but would not get any closer.

Blake led the Ichabods scoring 19 of his game-high 34 points in the second half adding five assists and six rebounds. Sevon Witt scored 18 with six rebounds and three blocks while Tyler Geiman had 12 points, nine assists and eight rebounds with two steals. Ogbonna, in addition to his 11 points, had seven rebounds playing a career-high 28 minutes.

The Griffons were led by Tyrell Carroll who had 23 points.

Washburn was outrebounded 38 to 37 in the game, but forced 11 turnovers leading to 17 points and had nine boards leading to 13 points.

The Ichabods were 32 of 66 from the field for a 49 percent average while holding the Griffons to 44 percent for the game. Washburn’s bench outscored the Griffons 34 to 5 in the game.