{{tncms-inline content=”<p><span>“We kind of took the foot off the gas these last two games, but hopefully we can prepare for these road games ahead as we get closer to Kansas City.” -Javion Blake</span></p>” id=”43024f8d-a693-4aaa-832c-96cf99f4bd6d” style-type=”quote” title=”Blake Pull Quote” type=”relcontent”}}

As the men’s basketball team finished up the final part of their regular season, they struggled to put away some MIAA opponents. Their first matchup saw them facing off against Emporia State Feb. 13.

Washburn started off the game with a close contest that lasted throughout the entire game. In the first half, the Ichabods were only behind the Hornets by two points with a first half score of 27-29.

The leading Ichabods at halftime were senior Cameron Wiggins with nine points, senior Brady Skeens with four matching junior Javion Blake’s four as they heading into the close matchup that ensued in the second half.

The second half was were the Ichabods battled it out with the Hornets to try and end up with a win after a heartbreaking loss to Northwest Missouri State the previous week.  The Ichabods struggled to find a rhythm as Emporia State inched ahead. Eventually, the Hornets would pull away from Washburn as they tied with the Ichabods in the final quarter 39-39.

Emporia State ended up beating the Ichabods by two for a final score of 68-66. Washburn dropped their second game in a row in the MIAA conference, setting their record at 12-4 in MIAA play.

“We came out lackadaisical, we felt like we took the foot off the gas, we were ahead early and we just could not pull it off,” junior Tyas Martin said.

The next game for the Ichabods was against Southwest Baptist University Feb. 17 and the Ichabods were looking to rebound from their most recent losses.

The Ichabods started the first half with a score of 38-41, trailing the Bearcats by three by halftime. The leading scorers for the Ichabods in the first half were Skeens with 14, along with Wiggins’ nine and Blake’s five.

The second half was an even closer contest as the Ichabods battled back and forth with the Bearcats. Neither team opened up breathing room as the game headed into overtime with a second half score heading out of regulation at 84-84.

In overtime, the Ichabods outscored the Bearcats 18-16 and Washburn ended up with the win against the Bearcats. The final score was 102-100.

The leading scorers in this contest were Skeens with 32, Martin with 17 and Wiggins with 22.

“We kind of took the foot off the gas these last two games, but hopefully we can prepare for these road games ahead as we get closer to Kansas City,” junior Javion Blake said.

{{tncms-inline content=”<p>Washburn @ University of Central Oklahoma</p> <p>Thursday, February 22nd</p> <p>7:30pm</p> <p>Hamilton Field House</p>” id=”23c70eaf-f503-440d-80d6-e14f1d53be94″ style-type=”fact” title=”Up Next…” type=”relcontent”}}

Up next for the Ichabods is a matchup against the University of Central Oklahoma. The Ichabods face off against the Bronchos at 7:30 p.m, Feb. 22  in Hamilton Field House. Washburn looks to finish on a high note as their regular season concludes.