By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's men's basketball team scored 47 points in the second half to top Newman, 72-61, Saturday in Wichita.
The Ichabods improved to 5-5 overall and 2-2 in the MIAA while the Jets fell to 3-6, 0-4.
Michael Keegan
Tyler Geiman
Levi Braun
It was a low-scoring first half with a combined 47 points for both teams.
Freshman Michael Keegan was the offense for Washburn in the first five minutes, scoring six of the offense's eight points while going a perfect three of three from the field.
The Ichabods led 11-5 at the 14:22 mark before letting up an 11-2 run in five minutes.
Washburn slowly chipped away and then Levi Braun hit a 3-pointer to take the lead back with 5:35 remaining in the half.
Keegan scored four more in the waning minutes to give the Ichabods a 25-22 halftime lead.
Washburn got its offense cranked up in the second half, starting with a Jalen Lewis 3 to make it a 30-25 game. Lewis went on the score his first eight points in the next two minutes.
Newman was able to make it a one-point game with 13:40 remaining in the game before the Ichabods went on a 10-0 run to take an insurmountable 51-40 lead.
Keegan led the Ichabods with 17 points on 7 of 11 shooting and also led the team with eight rebounds, four steals, and two blocks.
Tyler Geiman and Braun each had 13 points, with Geiman also dishing out eight assists.
NU was led by Stevie Strong's 21 points. Strong shot 5 of 13 from the field and hit four 3-pointers. Ian Lee added 16 points.
WU finished with just 11 turnovers compared to Newman's 19.
Washburn heads back home for a game against Rogers State on Saturday at 6 p.m.
