By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The 15th-ranked Washburn University men’s basketball team will get a second shot at Missouri Western Thursday night, with the Ichabods hosting the Griffons in a 7:30 MIAA tilt at Lee Arena.
After winning its first eight games of the season, Washburn suffered its first loss on Jan. 9 against the Griffons, dropping a 74-67 road decision.
The Ichabods will take a 14-3 record (overall and the MIAA) into Thursday’s rematch while Missouri Western is 10-8.
Washburn has won its last three games, including a 70-68 road win at Central Missouri last Saturday, while Missouri Western has won two straight games, snapping a seven-game losing streak with an 82-81 win over Pittsburg State and then topping Newman 86-75 on Tuesday.
Washburn will be aiming to snap a three-game losing streak against the Griffons.
enior Tyler Geiman and the Washburn men's basketball team will be out to avenge an earlier loss to Missouri Western Thursday night at Lee Arena. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior point guard Tyler Geiman averages 20.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.8 steals for the Ichabods while playing 36.5 minutes per game.
Geiman leads the MIAA and is third in the nation in assists, while ranking third in the MIAA in scoring and fourth in steals.
Junior Jalen Lewis averages 11.9 points and has connected on 39 of 77 3-point attempts for WU.
Junior Jonny Clausing, who returned to action against Central Missouri after missing seven games with a foot injury, averages 9.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks while redshirt freshman Levi Braun is averaging 9.3 points and has hit 49 3-pointers in 90 attempts.
Tyler Nelson is scoring 9.5 points a game and 11.3 in his last eight games since moving into WU’s starting lineup.
Tyrell Carroll averages a team-high 17.9 points for Missouri Western while Will Eames averages 12.2 points and a team-high 8.9 rebounds.
Reese Glover averages 12 points, Caleb Bennett 11.7 and Q Mays 11.1 for the Griffons.
WU WOMEN TO HOST GRIFFONS
Washburn’s women will be looking to snap a brief two-game losing streak when the Ichabods host Missouri Western in a 5:30 MIAA contest Thursday at Lee Arena.
WU is 7-10 on the season after a pair of tough road losses at Northeastern State and Central Missouri last week while Western is 6-11, but in the midst of a three-game winning streak.
Washburn dropped a 62-56 decision at No. 20 Central Missouri last Saturday while Missouri Western is coming off a 71-54 win over Newman on Tuesday.
WU picked up a 61-49 road win at Western on Jan. 9.
Senior Hunter Bentley leads Washburn and is fourth in the MIAA with a 16.6 scoring average and has scored double figures in all but two games this season.
Junior Nuria Barrientos contributes 11.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 steals for the Ichabods.
Logan Hughes leads the Griffons in scoring with an 8.2 average.
Washburn hosts Northwest Missouri on Saturday in an MIAA twinbill, with the women's game tipping off at 1 p.m., followed by the men's game..
