TOPEKA, Kan. – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team shocked the MIAA with a 70-54 win at Washburn Tuesday in the first round the MIAA Tournament that gave the program its first postseason win since 2010.

The Griffons became the first 11-seed to ever win an MIAA Tournament game with an impressive wire-to-wire victory over the sixth-seeded Ichabods. Cole Clearman set the tone early for what would be an impressive performance by the sophomore and his team. Just 15 second into the game, Clearman drained the first of what would become six made three-point field goals by the guard. Missouri Western jumped out to a 5-0 lead after Clearman’s three and never looked back. Washburn got within one with 16:08 to go in the first half, but never got closer than that again as Missouri Western took an 11-point lead to halftime.

Washburn cut the lead to nine quickly out of the break, but never got within single digits again. The Griffons made scoring a challenge for Washbburn, forcing 17 Ichabod turnovers and holding them to 35.3 percent shooting, just 16 percent in the first half. Missouri Western shot 41.2 percent from the field and made its key-10 three pointers. The team is now 8-0 this season when making 10 threes or more.

Clearman finished with a game-high 20 points on 6-11 shooting from behind the arc. Miles Wentzien added 14 points with five rebounds. Mataika Koyamainavure had a team-high eight rebounds and added nine points.

It was just the 11th win in Topeka for Missouri Western all-time and set up a third matchup this season with Missouri Southern. The Griffons will face the third-seeded Lions on Friday at noon in Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium.

— MWSU Athletics —