The Washburn men’s basketball team beat the Lindenwood University Lions 59-57 as Washburn capitalizes on late game struggles for both teams.

Scoring was few and far between for both teams Saturday, Feb. 13. The game started slow, but Washburn pulled in front by eight points with 11 minutes left in the first half. Washburn kept above a six-point lead for some time before Lindenwood started to climb back into the game.

After three minutes without a score, the Lions broke the dry spell and brought the game within two points with 2:42 left in the first half, the score 18-16. Both teams took off for the remainder of the half, scoring at will for the last few minutes, but as time expired the Lions tied the game at 23 with a jumper from Brad Newman.

Like the first half, the scoring was scarce for the first few minutes of the second. Defense dominated both teams as neither could get an edge until the Ichabods climbed to a five-point lead with 15 minutes remaining in the game, 31-26.

The Ichabods run would come to an end with the start of the Lions’ run, which tied the game at 31 and took their first lead of the game 33-34 with 14:11 left in the game.

Both teams went on runs, Washburn climbing ahead by as much as five with 9:24 left in the game, 47-42.

The Lions retaliated with a run of their own, tying the game at 47 yet again. The Lions took their biggest lead of the game in the final 10 minutes with a four-point cushion over the Ichabods. Washburn fought back, tying the game at 57 with 4:17 left in the fourth.

Only one shot was made in the final four minutes: a layup in the paint from Randall Smith to put the Ichabods up 59-57 with 30 seconds left. Three-pointers missed their mark for the Lions as time expired, giving the Ichabods the close win in the last few seconds.

For the Ichabods, Christian Ulsaker led the team offensively, scoring 15 after hitting six of eight from the field. He also made his only 3-point shot of the night. Randall Smith went six of 13, missing his only three but scoring 12 in the low scoring affair, but had four assists. No other Ichabods reached double digits in points.

The Ichabods play Northeastern State University on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at home. They enter the game with a 14-9 record overall, 10-8 in the conference, and are currently riding a 2-game win streak. Northeastern State enters 7-15, 6-12 in the MIAA, coming fresh off a loss to Northwest Missouri State.