Washburn competed against the University of Minnesota Duluth at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Central Regional quarterfinals at Lee Arena on March 14. Washburn University underwent a season-ending loss and did not advance to the NCAA Central Regional Championship Game. The Ichabods failed to secure a spot at the semi-finals as they fell short by two points with a 64-62 loss against the Bulldogs. The No.3 Ichabods closed the season with a 31-2 record, winning in the MIAA regular season and tournament championships.

Sophomore guard Tyson Ruud got the Ichabods on the board first with a fast-break driving layup assisted by junior guard Jack Bachelor. Shortly after, Ruud converted a three-point play to give Washburn a 6-5 lead. 

In the first half, Washburn held the lead for a total of five minutes, 35 seconds. The Ichabods longest sustained lead of the period began at 8:30 mark following a tip-in by Ruud which put them ahead 20-18. They maintained that advantage for nearly two and a half minutes before the Bulldogs scored a 3-pointer that tied the game at 22-22 with 6:07 minutes remaining in that half. The first half was an intense match where the Bulldogs led at halftime with 32-29.

Senior guard Bryson Smith led the match with 15 points, adding five assists and two steals. The Ichabods faced their largest deficit of the night early in the second half when the Bulldogs extended its lead to 54-42 with 15:07 minutes remaining. But the Ichabods ignited a 15-0 run over the next six minutes. Senior guard Isaiah Saams-Hoy and Smith combined for 10 points during the surge, which Smith capped with a layup to give Ichabods a 57-54 lead for a total of 3:33 during the second half.

The game featured four lead changes in the final period alone. With a score tied at 62-62 in the final minute, the Bulldogs converted two free throws to take the lead for good, leading the final score as 64-62.

The home crowd was very energetic and supportive throughout the match, with cheering intensifying in the final few minutes as the game was tied before the free throws. 

Despite the early exit from the national tournament, the head coach Brett Ballard praised his team’s resilience and accomplishments following the game.

“These guys were worthy of being champions. Obviously, we won the regular season and the conference, and they are champions. And just didn’t happen tonight. Duluth was great. We just couldn’t get the rhythm offensively,” Ballard said.

Following Ballard’s comments, senior forward Brady Christiansen reflected on his time in the program.

“I wanted to be into this program, on court and off court, and it’s something on earth for the rest of my life,” Christiansen said. “Everything about the process. ..it was a grind.. and I couldn’t  just be more thankful to be calling myself an Ichabod and the other day, just proud of the guys in locker room.”

While the season ended sooner, Christiansen noted that he hopes the returning players carry the momentum forward.

“We didn’t come out on top tonight, but I hope they use this as motivation going into next year and set the same standard,” Christiansen said.

As both senior guard Sam Ungashick and Christianensen marked their final year as seniors, Ungashick discussed the bond of the team and their growth over the last several seasons.

“That Locker was incredible this year,” Ungashick said. “To come in here and to help teams win like we did over the past three years, and then after last year, after our run last year, to come back here and be statistically better even this year was just something I’ll never forget, something I’ll share through the rest of my life.”

Washburn’s offensive rhythm was hindered by a season low 16.7 percent, 3 of 18, performance from 3-point range, including a 1-0f-13 mark in the first half. Bachelor finished the game with eight points, bringing his season total to 95 3-pointers which is the third-highest single-season mark in the program history. Bachelor also moved into 14th on the Washburn career scoring chart with 1,319 points.

Junior guard Jeremiah Jones ended the year with 103 steals, officially setting a new school single-season record. On the boards,Christiansen concluded his career with 778 rebounds, ranking fifth all-time in Washburn history.

The Ichabods finished the season with 363 total steals, shattering the previous school record of 317 set during the 1991-92 campaign. While the season ended sooner than the No. 3 Ichabods had hoped, the 31-win campaign stands as one of the most successful in program history, highlighted by a sweep of the MIAA regular season and tournament titles.

Edited by Stuti Khadka