By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University men's basketball's most experienced player came through huge when it mattered the most Saturday in Lee Arena.
Senior Brady Christiansen scored 8 of his 12 points in the second overtime as Washburn outlasted Central Missouri, 78-72. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Brady Christiansen, who has played 104 games in an Ichabod uniform, scored eight of his 12 points in the second overtime period as the Ichabods outlasted Central Missouri 78-72 to improve to 11-0 overall and 3-0 in the MIAA.
Christiansen, who also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds with three assists, scored five straight points in the second OT to put Washburn in front 69-63 with 2:51 remaining in the second five-minute extra session and later drained a huge 3-pointer to give the Ichabods a 74-69 advantage with 59 seconds left.
"I kind of just got lost in the moment,'' Christiansen said. "I'm still a little bit lost for words right now, but I think when the team needed plays I was ready to step up.
"It's someone else's night every night, but credit to how tough we played on defense I think that was what really kept us in the game because we didn't shoot it worth a lick. They got 72 points in two overtimes and that's really good defense and coach is proud of that. It was a really good team-effort win.''
Washburn coach Brett Ballard wasn't surprised that his 6-foot-7 frontliner, who has been a steady performer for the Ichabods since his freshman season, came through in the clutch.
"He's always consistent and he really rises in big moments,'' Ballard said. "He made a huge shot in Florida when we needed it early in the season and this game those plays late, he's not afraid of that moment. He's put the time into it and I'm really happy for him because he's just been consistent for us for four years.''
The No. 2-ranked Ichabods erased multiple deficits, including a seven-point deficit with five minutes left in regulation and a five-point deficit in the first OT, to pull out their 22nd straight home victory.
The Ichabods finished the game with a decisive 15-9 advantage in the second overtime after the teams were deadlocked at 63 following the first extra period.
Washburn trailed by as many as seven points in the first half but closed the opening period strong and carried that momentum into the second half, where the game tightened into a possession-by-possession battle.
Washburn shot 42.3 percent in the second half and forced key turnovers late to send the game to overtime tied at 56.
Both teams scored 7 points in the first overtime to force a second extra session.
Washburn took control for good in the second overtime.
Sophomore Dillon Claussen led Washburn with 21 points in Saturday's 78-72 double-overtime win over Central Missouri. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Sophomore Dillon Claussen opened the period with a free throw and followed with strong finishes at the rim as part of a game-defining 9-0 run that stretched the lead to six.
Claussen capped the run with a fastbreak dunk off a Jeremiah Jones steal to push the margin to 78-69 in the final seconds.
Junior Jack Bachelor scored 16 points in Washburn's 78-72 double-overtime win over Central Missouri. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Junior Jeremiah Jones scored 13 points and had seven steals in Washburn's 78-72 double-overtime MIAA victory over Central Missouri. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Claussen led all Washburn scorers with 21 points, adding seven rebounds, four assists and four blocks in 40 minutes. Bachelor chipped in 16 points while Jones finished with 13 points and seven steals.
Tyson Ruud provided a spark off the bench with nine points and seven boards.
As a team, Washburn held a 44-18 advantage in points in the paint, turned 23 Central Missouri turnovers into key scoring opportunities and finished with a 19-11 edge in fastbreak points.
Washburn outscored the Mules 12-0 in the paint in the overtime periods. Washburn also forced the Mules into five turnovers in the overtime frames while committing zero in the extra minutes.
Lazerek Houston led Central Missouri (9-3, 2-1) with 21 points while Kyran Tilley added 19 and Jevon Hill and Jake Fritz 11 apiece.
The Ichabods will now step out of MIAA play, traveling to San Antonio, Texas for the annual River City Holiday Classic.
Washburn will face No. 4 ranked Lubbock Christian on Tuesday before wrapping up the 2025 calendar year with No. 8 ranked West Texas A&M the following day.
Washburn returns to MIAA play on Jan. 3, hosting Emporia State.
WASHBURN 78, CENTRAL MISSOURI 72 (2 OT)
Washburn 23 33 7 15 -- 78
Central Missouri (9-3, 2-1) -- Hill 4-13 0-0 11, Parker 1-3 0-0 2, Tilley 6-15 5-6 19, Fritz 3-4 3-4 11, Houston 8-19 1-2 21, Fikes 0-2 0-0 0, Kaifes 2-7 1-2 6, Lux 1-3 0-0 2, Martin 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-67 10-14 72.
Washburn (11-0, 3-0) -- Christiansen 3-4 5-7 12, Claussen 7-14 5-8 21, Smith 1-8 1-1 3, Bachelor 6-16 3-4 16, Jones 6-10 0-0 13, Ruud 4-8 0-0 9, Ungashick 0-2 2-2 2, Glock 1-4 0-2 2, Cook 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 28-67 16-26 78.
3-point shots -- Central Missouri 12-40 (Houston 4-9, Hill 3-12, Tilley 2-7, Fritz 2-3, Kaifes 1-5, Fikes 0-2, Lux 0-1, Martin 0-1), Washburn 6-28 (Claussen 2-2, Christiansen 1-2, Bachelor 1-9, Jones 1-4, Ruud 1-3, Smith 0-3, Glock 0-3, Ungashick 0-2). Rebounds -- Central Missouri 39 (Hill 8), Washburn 46 (Christiansen 8). Assists -- Central Missouri 12 (Tilley 6), Washburn 17 (Claussen 4, Smith 4). Turnovers -- Central Missouri 17, Washburn 15. Total fouls -- Central Missouri 21, Washburn 14. Fouled out -- none. Technical foul -- none. Attendance -- 2,125.
