Bob Chipman and Tom Smith have more than 1,300 career coaching wins between them.  Chipman added one more Saturday night as Washburn defeated Western 79-55 Saturday in Lee Arena.

The Ichabods’ Will McNeill and Alex North scored 20 points each, while Western turned it over 27 times in the loss.

The Ichabods used a 21-2 run, coupled with 17 Griffon first-half turnovers, to build a  20-point lead and take a 40-24 lead to the break.

“We found ourselves in a similar situation last week (at Fort Hays),”  explained Coach Tom Smith.  “We were really bullied.  That’s what it came down to… we were bullied.”

The Griffons started the 2nd half with a 16-7 run to make it a 47-40 game, but Washburn then answered by forcing two turnovers and turning them to five straight points, including a 3-point play from McNeil, to push the lead back to double digits.

Alex Tuluka-Mfumupembe led Western with 12 points, going a perfect 4-4 from the 3-point line.

TJ Johnson, who returned to the line-up after missing the previous three games with a sprained ankle, had 10 points on 3-6 shooting.

Western’s Dylan France left the game midway through the 2nd half with a heavy cut above his left eye.  He did not return.

Western falls to 6-5 overall and 1-4 in MIAA play.  Washburn improves to 7-3 and 3-1 in the conference.

— MWSU Sports Information —