By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's men's basketball team rallied from a 15-point deficit to send Thursday night's game at Central Oklahoma to overtime, but the Ichabods were outshot at the free throw line 42 to 15 on the night in a 97-87 loss to the Bronchos.
The Ichabods (4-5, 1-2 MIAA) trailed 44-33 at the halftime break behind some hot shooting from the Bronchso as UCO hit eight of 17 shots from 3-point range for a 47- percent mark and was 15 of 27 overall from the field. The Ichabods were 6 of 21 on 3s and 13 of 33 overall.
Starting the second half the Ichabods went on a 9-0 run after UCO scored the first points of the frame, cutting the lead to four at 46-52 after a 3-pointer by Hayden product Levi Braun, forcing UCO (6-2, 2-1 MIAA) into a timeout.
Jalen Lewis tied his career-high with 30 points in Washburn's overtime loss at Central Oklahoma Thursday night. [File photo/TSN]
A 3-pointer by Jalen Lewis pulled the Ichabods within three at 50-47 with 14:19 to play in the game and a traditional 3-point play pulled the Ichabods within two after the made free throw with 13:16 to go.
UCO then pushed the lead back to six at 56-50 with over 11 minutes to play but Washburn railed to cut the lead to three at 57-54 with 10:14 to go.
UCO stretched its lead to seven at 63-56, but back to back 3's by Braun cut the lead to one at 63-62 with 8:17 to play. Washburn tied the score at 66 with 6:48 to play on a free throw by Connor Deffebaugh and then took its first lead since the 18-minute mark of the first half on a lay up by Michael Keegan.
The Ichabods pushed their lead to 73-68 after Braun's fifth 3-pointer of the game, but UCO cut the lead back to one at 73-72 with 3:37 to play after coming up empty on their next three possessions.
A jumper by Lewis put Washburn up 75-74, but a free throw by UCO tied the score at 75 with 2:45 to play and then Braun connected on a 3-pointer with 2:30 to go stretching the Ichabod advantage to 78-75.
UCO was fouled on the next drive but went one of two from the line as the Ichabods led 78-76 with 1:54 to play.
The teams traded misses from 3-point range and the Ichabods came up empty on their next possession, but a foul on the Ichabods and two free throws tied the score at 78 with 1:31 to play in the game.
The tie lasted 10 seconds as a floater by Lewis put the Ichabods right back up two with 1:21 remaining. UCO hit two more free throws to tie the score again with 66 seconds to play.
Lewis put the Ichabods back up by two at 82-80 with 40 seconds left, but an Ichabod foul sent UCO to the line where they hit both free throws tying the score at 82. UCO's final possession was a turnover and Tyler Geiman's halfcourt heave hit the rim as the game went to overtime.
In the extra frame, the Ichabods led 85-84 after a 3-pointer by Lewis and then after a UCO score, Isaiah Thorne's layup with 3:08 put the Ichabods up, 87-86. UCO hit back to back layups to go up 90-87. UCO then scored its final eight points from the free throw line.
Lewis tied a career-high 30 points and Braun had 18 hitting six 3-pointers. Lewis was 11 of 17 from the field. Geiman had eight assists in his first action since the season-opener.
UCO was led by Cameron Givens' 40 points.
WU finished 9 of 15 from the free throw line while UCO was 36 of 42.
UCO WOMEN 69, WASHBURN 58
The Washburn women's basketball team fell 69-58 on the road to Central Oklahoma, falling to 1-7 on the year with its sixth straight loss.
Washburn (1-7, 0-3 MIAA) jumped out to a 22-19 advantage at the end of the first quarter after shooting four of five beyond the 3-point arc.
Washburn looked to continue their success from three in the second quarter when Mackenzie Gamble hit her third trep of the game. The Bronchos (6-3, 2-1 MIAA) responded with a 7-0 run to take the lead at five minutes remaining in the half and Central Oklahoma didn't slow down, holding a 39-32 lead at the break.
Both teams started the third quarter cold as neither team scored for the first three and a half minutes of the quarter. The Bronchos ended the drought with a layup.
Hunter Bentley ended the quarter with a three for Washburn, but the Bronchos kept the seven-point lead going into the final frame.
Bentley got the first Ichabod points in the fourth quarter off a layup and Aubree Dewey drained a 3-pointer to pull the Ichabods with four, 58-54, with 5:21 remaining in the game. However, Bronchos ended the game with a 7-0 run for the win.
Washburn had a 36.1 field goal percentage on the night while Central Oklahoma shot 40 percent. The Ichabods made eight triples and the Bronchos hit 7-of-15 attempts from deep. A difference in the game was the Bronchos scoring 30 points in the paint compared to the Ichabods' 18. Washburn had 41 rebounds including 14 offensive boards and eight blocks.
Bentley scored 16 points, shooting 6 for 14 from the floor with two 3-pointers. Lauren Cassaday led the Ichabods with eight rebounds, including six offensive boards. Cassaday also chipped in 10 points.
Four Bronchos finished in double-figures, led by Kelsey Johnson's 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Washburn will play an MIAA women's/men's doubleheader at Newman on Saturday
