The Washburn Ichabod men’s basketball team won its fifth-straight game using a big second half to pull away from Central Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon in Lee Arena in an 88-69 win. The Ichabods will be on the road for the next two games starting with Lincoln in Jefferson City, Mo., on Thursday followed by Lindenwood on Saturday in St. Charles, Mo.

Washburn (19-5, 12-3 MIAA) led the Bronchos 36-33 at the half after the teams had nine ties and eight lead changes in the first 20 minutes as neither team led by more than four points. Washburn shot 52 percent from the field but also turned the ball over 12 times in the opening stanza compared to three for the Bronchos (10-14, 3-12).

Coming out of the break, the Ichabods pulled out to a four-point lead at 41-37 on a 3-pointer by Javion Blake and after a pair of UCO free throws, the Ichabods scored the next seven points of the game with five coming from Tyler Geiman on a lay-up and and 3-pointer with a bucket by Jace Williams in between pushing the lead to 49-39 with 17:11 to go.

UCO came back with four straight points trimming the margin back to five with 16:02 to play, but the Ichaobds responded with a 17-2 run over the next 5:38 and UCO would not get within 14 the rest of the way with 5:36 to go.

Blake led the Ichabods with 20 points in 24 minutes of action on 7 of 12 shooting hitting 3 of 6 3-pointers adding four rebounds and two assists. Geiman had 16 points hitting four 3-pointers with seven rebounds and four assists. David Salachhad 12 points with eight rebounds including four offensive boards. Devyn Wilson scored 11 with four assists and Will McKee had seven points, 10 caroms, two assists, two blocks and one steal.

Adarius Avery had 27 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Bronchos.

Washburn shot 65 percent in the second half hitting 20 of 31 attempts shooting a season-best 59 percent from the field on 33 of 56 shooting. Washburn also had 11 3-pointers in 26 attempts and hit 11 of 12 free throws while holding a 36 to 25 advantage on the glass.

Washburn outscored UCO 42 to 22 in the paint in the game and only had four turnovers in the second half.