By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For the second time in two meetings No. 15 Washburn and No. 3 Northwest Missouri needed overtime to decide a winner, with the Bearcats topping the Ichabods 88-85 at Lee Arena to split the regular-season series.
In a game that saw 17 lead changes and 15 ties, the Bearcats hit 9 of 10 free throws in the OT to seal the win.
The Bearcats went up by 5 in overtime but Washburn cut its deficit to 86-85 with 9 seconds to play. Then, after a pair of free throws by Northwest, a 3-point attempt by the Ichabods from the corner rimmed out as the Bearcats held on for the win.
Sophomore Tyler Nelson scored 18 points in Washburn's 88-85 OT loss to No. 3 Northwest Missouri Saturday. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Bearcats led 39-38 going into the halftime break after shooting 64 percent from the field while the Ichabods shot 63 percent. The score was tied at 72 going into the overtime as the Ichabods outscored the Bearcats 34-33 in the second half.
Senior Tyler Geiman led the Ichabods with 20 points on 8 of 11 shooting, with 3 3-pointers and 4 assists. Sophomore Tyler Nelson and junior Jalen Lewis both scored 18 points while Jonny Clausing scored 14 points off the bench, hitting all 7 of his field goal attempts.
Former Manhattan star Trevor Hudgins scored a game-high 28 points and dished out 6 assists to lead 4 Bearcats in double figures.
Diego Bernard and Luke Waters both scored 17 points while Ryan Hawkings added 16.
Both teams shot 57 percent for the game as the Ichabods were 31 of 54 and Northwest was 28 of 49. The Bearcats hit 22 of 29 free throw attempts while the Ichabods were 15 of 18.
Neither team led by more than 6 points during the game and the teams were separated by no more than 4 in the second half.
The Ichabods will be back in action on Tuesday hosting Northeastern State at 6 p.m. in Lee Arena.
NORTHWEST MISSOURI MEN 88, WASHBURN 85 (OT)
Northwest Missouri 39 33 16 -- 88
Washburn 38 34 13 -- 85
NORTHWEST MISSOURI (19-1, 19-1)
Hudgins 7-16 10-12 28, Bernard 6-7 2-3 17, Waters 7-10 2-3 17, Hawkins 5-12 5-6 16, Dreamer 1-1 0-0 3, Alexander 2-3 3-5 7. Totals 28-49 22-29 88.
WASHBURN (14-5, 14-5)
Geiman 8-11 1-1 20, Nelson 5-12 6-6 18, Lewis 5-10 7-8 18, Williams 3-4 1-2 7, McKee 1-2 0-0 3, Deffebaugh 2-5 0-0 5, Clausing 7-7 0-1 14, Braun 0-2 0-0 0, Carter 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 31-59 15-18 85.
3-point goals -- Northwest Missouri 10-21 (Hudgins 4-10, Bernard 3-4, Waters 1-4, Hawkins 1-2, Dreamer 1-1), Washburn 8-20 (Geiman 3-5, Nelson 2-5, Lewis 1-5, McKee 1-2, Deffebaugh 1-1, Braun 0-2). Rebounds -- Northwest Missouri 23 (Bernard 7), Washburn 25 (Williams 4, Clausing 4). Assists -- Northwest Missouri 14 (Hudgins 6), Washburn 11 (Geiman 4). Turnovers -- Northwest Missouri 10, Washburn 10. Total fouls -- Northwest Missouri 17, Washburn 28. Fouled out -- Waters, Lewis, McKee.
