Ichabods dominate second half, take out Mules, 57-45

(Topeka, Kan.) – The Central Missouri Mules were outscored 35-19 in the final half, and were held to their lowest point total since 2002 against Missouri-Rolla (32), as the Washburn Ichabods took a 57-45 win at Lee Arena on New Year’s Eve.

The shooting was the story in the first half, or lack thereof. Central Missouri (8-4, 3-3 MIAA) shot only 36.0 percent and made nine shots from the field, but Washburn (6-4, 3-3 MIAA) was even worse, hitting a season-low five shots for 20.8 percent.
          
The Mules grabbed an early 7-2 lead, but that would be the largest margin for either team in the opening period. The Ichabods tied it at seven with 14:06 to play, and grabbed its biggest advantage at three on a couple De’Andre Washington free throws at the 6:05 mark. UCM went on an 8-0 run over the next two minutes though, making it 20-15 with 3:58 to play on a bucket by senior forward Manny Richardson. The Mules carried that advantage into the break, hitting the locker room up 26-22.
          
Senior forward Joel Barkers tallied a team-high eight points for UCM, while also grabbing nine rebounds in the half. UCM used a 20-16 advantage on the boards as well, but committed 10 turnovers.
          
The Ichabods came out on fire to open the second stanza, scoring 21 points in the first 10 minutes. The Mules continued with the same pace though, and WU used a 22-4 run to hold a 50-36 lead with about six minutes to play. Central Missouri went more than six minutes without scoring a point during the rally.
          
Both teams shot a season-low in the contest, with UCM hitting 33.3 percent, and WU tallying a 32.0 percent clip. The difference came on the free throw line, where the Ichabods had 23 points, compared to the Mules’ 10 points.

UCM had won three in a row, while WU had lost three consecutive coming into the contest, but a 12-day layover stunned both team’s offenses.
          
Barkers was the leader for UCM in the game, scoring 14 points and pulling down a career-high 14 rebounds. Boo Hunter hit for 13 points, but went only 2-of-11 from the floor. Only six players scored for UCM, and two were in double figures.
          
Logan Stutz put up 21 points and had 12 boards in the game for WU, putting up 15 in the final half.
            Central Missouri will head to Hays for a contest with Fort Hays State on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.