TOPEKA, Kan. (Feb. 10, 2016) -- Washburn shot 52 percent for the game, including 54 percent in the second half in an 80-70 win over the Mules on Wednesday night at Lee Arena.
The game was back and forth in the early going with neither team able to gain much of an edge. The Ichabods (13-9, 9-9 MIAA) broke a 12-all tie with six straight to lead at the 7:37 mark of the first half. The lead stretched to seven before the Mules (13-10, 7-10 MIAA) went on a 7-0 run to tie the game at 24-24 with 3:17 to play in the first half.
UCM grabbed a two point lead, 26-24, on a pair of
Jakob Lowrance free throws only to see WU come right back to tie the game.
Brad Woodson knocked down a pair of foul shots to put UCM back in front 28-26. Lowrance hit a three-pointer at the :46 mark to put UCM in front 31-28, but the Ichabods closed the first half on a 6-0 run to grab a 34-31 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
The Ichabods seized control by opening the second half on a 12-2 run to lead 46-33 with 16:33 to play in the game. The lead grew to 14 by the 13:21 mark when the Mules started to creep back.
A jumper from Woodson and a three from Lowrance cut the lead to nine, but Washburn answered right back to push the lead to 11. The Mules got back to within seven at the 6:04 mark on a pair of
D'Marnier Cunningham free throws, but a three from Cameron Wiggins pushed the WU lead back to double digits. UCM could get no closer than eight the rest of the way as they dropped their third straight game.
Lowrance led UCM with a season-high 18 points.
Spencer Reaves had 17 points and Cunningham added 11 points and five assists. The Mules were 23-of-49 from the field, shooting 47 percent. They were 9-of-20 from beyond the arc for 45 percent and 15-of-20 at the foul line.
Washburn was 26-of-50 from the field and 10-of-18 from beyond the arc for 56 percent. The Ichabods were 18-of-24 at the foul line and out-rebounded UCM 32-19. The 'Bods outscored the Mules 30-16 in the paint and 20-10 from the bench.
Javion Blake led five Ichabods in double figures with 21 points. Wiggins had 16 while Brady Skeens had 13 and Christian Ulsaker and Randall Smith chipped in 10 apiece.
The Mules are back in action on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. against Southwest Baptist in Bolivar.
