By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Even Washburn Unversity men's basketball coach Brett Ballard doesn't know exactly how, but the Ichabods found a way to pull out a 67-65 MIAA road win over Central Missouri Friday in Warrensburg, Mo.
Connon Deffebaugh converted a follow shot with two seconds left to cap a furious late comeback by Washburn, which trailed 63-55 with just 2:12 remaining.
"I don't know how we won this game,'' Ballard told KTPK Radio in his postgame interview. "Somehow we found a way.
"UCM kind of got rattled there at the end. Our last three minutes we were pretty turned up and I'm proud of the way our guys finished the game.''
Connor Deffebaugh scored the game-winning basket with two seconds remaining, giving Washburn a come-from-behind 67-65 MIAA victory at Central Missouri Friday. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods, who struggled most of the second half after leading 29-25 at the half, improved to 7-6 and 4-3 in the MIAA.
Jeremy Harrell hit two free throws to cut the Mules' lead to six and then Jalen Lewis connected on a 3-pointer the Ichabods' deficit to 63-60 with 1:47 remaining after back to back turnovers by Central Missouri (6-4, 3-3).
Harrell hit two more free throws to pull Washburn within a point (63-62) and then after Central Missouri missed at the other end Lewis canned another 3-pointer to put the Ichabods up 65-63 with 40 seconds remaining.
The Mules scored tied the score at 65 with 24 seconds left, but missed a free throw prevented Central Missouri from taking the lead and gave Washburn a chance to pull out the win.
Harrell, who paced the Ichabods with 17 points, missed a shot in the lane with two seconds to play, but Deffebaugh followed it up for the game-winner.
The Mules had a long desperation attempt at the buzzer that missed off the back of the rim
Harrell was one of four double-figure scoers for Washburn and also pulled down five rebounds.
Tyler Geiman notched a double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds (his 11th career double-double) and added four assists while Lewis finished with 13 points and Tyler Nelsom scored 11 in his season debut.
Jonny Clausing, coming off a foot injury, also saw his first action of the season, scoring two points with two rebounds in 11 minutes.
Ja'Cor Nelson scored a game-high 23 points for the Mules while Gaven Pinkley added 18 points.
Washburn struggled from 3-point range, hitting just five of 26 attempts, committed 20 turnovers and was just 12 of 22 from the free throw line.
"We'll take (wins) any way, pretty, ugly, I don't care,'' Ballard said. "Winning here is not easy.''
Central Missouri also struggled on offense, hitting 25 of 61 shots from the field and going nine of 17 from the free throw line.
The Mules also struggled against Washburn's pressure in the late going that helped turned the tide for the Ichabods.
Washburn will be back at Lee Arena next Thursday to host defending national champion Northwest Missouri.
WASHBURN MEN 67, CENTRAL MISSOURI 65
Washburn 29 38 -- 67
Central Missouri 25 40 -- 65
WASHBURN (7-6, 4-3)
Harrell 6-15 5-6 17, Geiman 5-12 2-4 14, Lewis 5-10 0-1 13, Deffebaugh 3-5 0-3 6, Keegan 2-3 0-0 4, Nelson 3-9 5-7 11, Clausing 1-1 0-1 2, Ellis 0-0 0-0 0, Braun 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-57 12-22 67.
CENTRAL MISSOURI (6-4, 3-3)
Nelson 9-15 4-9 23, Pinkley 7-13 0-0 18, Todd 3-10 3-4 9, Hunter 2-7 0-0 5, Okeke 2-6 0-0 4, Sides 1-6 2-2 4, Fritz 1-1 0-1 2, Gilbert 0-1 0-1 0, Mayle 0-2 0-0 0, Rogers 0-0 0-0 0.Totals 25-61 9-17 65.
3-point goals -- Washburn 5-26 (Lewis 3-6, Geiman 2-5, Harrell 0-6, Nelson 0-5, Deffebaugh 0-2, Braun 0-2), Central Missouri 6-25 (Pinkley 4-8, Nelson 1-3, Hunter 1-3, Todd 0-5, Sides 0-3, Okeke 0-2, Gilbert 0-1). Rebounds -- Washburn 45 (Geiman 10), Central Missouri 36 (Nelson10). Assists -- Washburn 14 (Geiman 4), Central Missouri 13 (Hunter 5). Turnovers -- Washburn 20, Central Missouri 16. Total fouls -- Washburn 18, Central Missouri 17. Fouled out -- Nelson. Technical fouls -- Hunter 2, Obeke.
