A 22-5 Ichabod run over a five minute stretch of the second half and Logan Stutz’s first double double of the season pushed Washburn to a 57-45 New Year’s Eve win over Central Missouri Friday afternoon in Lee Arena. Washburn (6-4, 3-3 MIAA) will be back in action on Jan. 5 when they will play host to Southwest Baptist.

Both teams struggled in the first half as they combined to hit 14 of 49 shots with the Mules hitting 9 of 25 taking a 26-22 lead into the break. Washburn was 5 of 24 from the field for a 21 percent average. Washburn starters were 3 of 17 from the field and the Mules first five were 7 of 20.

In the second half, the Ichabods tied the score at 28 on a layup by Jadarren Mumpfield with 17:06 to play. The Mules rebuilt their lead to four at 32-28 on layups by Ryan Harris and Boo Hunter with 16:04 to go. A 3-pointer by Bobby Chipman cut the lead to one at 32-31. De’Andre Washington hit a free throw and a jumper by Bryce Simons gave the Ichabods their first lead of the second half at 34-32 with 14:24 remaining.

Central (8-4, 3-3 MIAA) rallied to tie the score at 34 on a tip in by Joel Barkers. After a missed 3-pointer by Simons, Stutz put the ichabods up for good on a layup at 36-34. From that point, Stutz scored seven of Washburn’s next nine points beginning the big second half run pushing the Ichabods out to a 50-36 lead on a Stutz free throw. The Mules would not get closer than 10 the rest of the way.

Stutz led the Ichabods with 21 points scoring 15 in the second half going 7 of 9 from the field and 7 of 11 from the free throw line. He finished with a season-high 12 rebounds with eight defensive boards. Washington scored 11 points and Chipman finished with a season-high 10 points hitting both of Washburn’s two 3-pointers.

The Mules were led by Joel Barkers’ 14 points to go with a game-high 14 rebounds. Hunter also had double-figure scoring with 13 points

Washburn shot 42 percent in the second half on 11 of 26 shooting while the Mules were 7 of 23. Both teams finished with 16 field goals with the Mules going 16 of 48 (33 percent) and the Ichabods going 16 of 50 for 32 percent. Washburn finished 23 of 29 from the free throw line while the Mules were 10 of 16.

The 45 points for the Mules were the lowest points scored by any Kim Anderson-coached team at Central.