It wasn’t supposed to be this close of a game. The Bods had too many injuries early on, including a go-to post player. The Mules were ranked ninth in the nation, and picked to win the MIAA. Then again, that’s why they play the game.

The Ichabods found themselves trailing by fourteen points with a little over four minutes left in the half, and trailing by ten at the half. However, with the words of wisdom from Coach Chipman, the Bods played an entirely different second half. They out-rebounded, out-shot, and out-hustled the Mules in the second half, but in the end it wasn’t enough. The Bods dropped to 5-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play with a 76-68 loss to Central Missouri State.

“Coach told us we need to run the offense if we want to get back in the game. We needed to look inside and be aggressive,” said forward Kyle Snyder.

Apparently it worked as the Bods shot 56 percent from the field and got to the free throw line sixteen times in the second half.

Junior forward Rashad Adams led the team with fifteen points, while sophomore forward Brady Sisk contributed fourteen points and fourteen boards.

The Bods had trouble containing the Mules’ Alonzo Brooks who torched the Bods for thirteen points and kept the Bods’ post guys in foul trouble. Snyder had three fouls and forward Dylan Channel had two quick fouls in the first half.

Although the Ichabods out-rebounded Central Missouri, the Mules were able to get critical stick-backs to prevent the Bods from getting over the hump in the second half. Washburn cut the lead to two with just over fifteen minutes to play, but would get no closer the rest of the game.

“They [Mules] were beatable tonight. We just made mistakes, we have to work on running the offense better and get the team chemistry better,” said senior Kris Milburn.

Injuries that were plaguing the Bods early on in the season could be blamed for some of the poor passing and quick shots that hurt the Bods in the first half. Snyder who was out early in the season with a separated shoulder has played in four games so far, and said it’s not hindering his performance on the court. Sisk who was sidelined with a calf injury also has noticed an improvement in his condition and only experiences a little pain from time to time.

After finals week, the Ichabods travel to Las Vegas again for the High Desert Classic with the first game Saturday 12/17 against Texas A&M-Commerce. The Bods will play two more games in the Classic, and then prepare for MIAA matchups against Truman State, Northwest Missouri, and Emporia State over the winter break.