Topeka, KS. -  The Missouri Western men's basketball team ended a two-game Kansas road swing with a 76-64 loss to Washburn in Lee Arena Saturday.  The score was identical to Western's 76-64 loss at Emporia Thursday.

The Griffons (8-8, 4-4 MIAA)  shot 40.7% from the field but finished with 19 turnovers and 7 assists as a team.  The Ichabods (8-6, 5-3 MIAA) nailed 12 three-pointers (12-29) in the victory. 

JaQuaylon Mays led the Griffons with 23 points (9-17 FG) and 8 rebounds.  Will Eames added 15 points (5-12 FG) and 8 rebounds and Caleb Bennett chipped in 9 points with 8 boards.  The Ichabods were led by Jalen Lewis, who finished with a game-high 25 points on 6-12 shooting from behind the arc.  

Western started the game on a 5-0 run but the Ichabods responded with a 16-3 run over the game's first 9 minutes to take control.  The Ichabods forced 12 first-half turnovers and took a 40-25 lead to halftime.  

The Ichabbods led by as many as 19 points in the second half (52-33 15:03 mark and 62-43 8:49 mark).  The Griffons responded with a 10-2 run in the game's final minutes capped by a Will Eames 3-pointer to cut the Ichabod lead to nine late.  

   The Griffons, who started MIAA play 4-0, have now dropped four straight.  Washburn has won now won three straight in the series, after defeating the Griffons in the NCAA tournament and the MIAA tournament last March.  The Griffons swept the 2020-21 regular season meetings with the Ichabods. 

The Griffons return to action on Thursday, January 13th at home against Nebraska-Kearney.  Tip-off is set for 7:30 pm.