Dwane SIMMONS

Post-Event Story

Washburn University Male Basketball – Conference Championship Game

It was a gloomy afternoon in Kansas City, Missouri the Ichabod’s and the Bearcats were about to tipoff at 3:30 in the Municipal Auditorium. The stadium was filled with Ichabod and Bearcat fans. One side was completely forest green and the other was completely navy blue.

The Washburn Ichabod’s fell to the No. 7-ranked Northwest Missouri 80-74 in the MIAA Championship game on Sunday in Municipal Auditorium.

In a game which saw 51 fouls combined called on both teams, Washburn fell behind 41-28 at the break after going 10 of 25 from the field while the Bearcats were 14 of 25 including 6 of 14 from 3-point range while the Ichabod’s were 0 for 5 from deep.

In the second half the Ichabod’s fell behind by as many 12 13 before rallying to cut the lead to three on four different times but could not get any closer down the stretch as the Bearcats held on for the win.

Washburn was led by Brady Skeen’s who had a game-high 22 points with 13 rebounds for his 39th career double double going 8 of 13 from the field. Randall Smith scored 14 and Javion Blake had 13 for the Ichabod’s, whose record slipped to 22-9.

Washburn outrebounded the Bearcats 33 to 29 and finished the game at 48 percent after going 16 of 29 from the field in the second half. Northwest finished 23 of 46 overall as the Ichabod’s held the Bearcats to 9 of 21 shooting in the second half.

Coach Brett Ballard was very frustrated and the end of regulation and stated, “There was no rhythm… I don’t know what the record for fouls called in a league game this year was, but I have a feeling this has got to be up there.”