On March 4, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Conference Tournament kicked off in the Heart of America in Kansas City, Missouri, where the Ichabods rolled through the tournament and dominated the teams they faced off against. The men’s team won their last title back in 2021. 

The Ichabod Men’s team totaled 267 points in the Conference Tournament. junior guard Jack Bachelor was the leading scorer in the tournament, leading up to the Conference Championship with 24 points in the Men’s Quarterfinals and putting up 27 points in the Men’s Semifinals. In the Men’s Championship, senior guard Bryson Smith was the leading scorer with 21 points to lead them to a 91-59 win over Rogers State.

These wins in the MIAA Conference Tournament set the men’s overall record to 31-1 for the season. In the Quarterfinals the Ichabods shot 13-28 from field goal range with a percentage of 46.43 in the first half. In the second half, they went 21-30, shooting a solid 70.00 percent. They had an Exceptional amount of points made solely off of turnovers, with the total being 28. In total, the Ichabods shot 34-58 with a percentage of 58.6. Washburn kept the lead in the first half, then rolled over the University of Central Oklahoma in the second half by 29 points.

In the Semifinals, the first half, the Ichabods were leading 41-31 and squeezed their way through by 6 points in the second half. The Ichabods put up a total of 40 points in the paint against Missouri Western. Shooting 15-34 from the range for a combined percentage of 44.12. In the second half from field goal range, they had 18-34 and the combined percentage was 52.94. Overall, in the semifinals, the men’s team had shot 33-68 from the field and a percentage of 48.5.

“The good thing about these guys is they are pretty self motivated,” coach Brett Ballard said. 

The assistant coaches for the men’s team scout the teams for the upcoming matches. Coach Ballard also watches film, he has watched four games from the University of Minnesota Duluth in preparation for the upcoming game against them. The Ichabods have a very organized plan for the games to come.

Coach Ballard mentioned with the University of Minnesota Duluth that it is going to be tough, with the Ichabods being hot with the winning streak they have going.

“We’re hot and they’re hot so it is going to be a big challenge,” coach Ballard said.

The Ichabods lost In the first round of the MIAA tournament last year and Bachelor shared his thoughts.

“We slipped up in the first round and that we wanted some extra motivation this year and that we don’t want to do that again,” Bachelor said. “We came in hungry and motivated, staying very focused all week and with the Big 12 tournament going on there’s a lot of distractions, I think our guys did a great job staying locked in and focused on what’s ahead.”

With the championship for the MIAA against Rogers State, the Ichabods handled business and rolled on through in the first half, putting up 49. In the second half, the Ichabods slowly rolled by 8, making the bods putting up 42-34. Washburn men’s have seen Rogers State before, where statistically they have stayed pretty consistent against them.

The men’s team will look to defend their home court in Lee Arena. On March 14, the Ichabods are set to kick things off in Lee Arena at 5:30 against the University of Minnesota Duluth. If the bods can take care of things on Saturday, that will place them into the round of 32. It is still to be determined who they will be facing off against on the 15th. Results will vary depending on the winners of Saturday. The Ichabods will be hosting the tournament at home. Make sure to come out and support them.

Edited by Ojashwi Shrestha, Bidhya Sapkota and Stuti Khadka