TOPEKA, Kan. — Taye Fields registered another double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds, but Griffon Men's Basketball fell to the Washburn Ichabods 64-63 on the road Wednesday night inside Lee Arena.
The Griffons (15-7, 9-7 MIAA) had two players score in double figures, led by Fields' 19 points. Zion Swader added 10 points and two steals, and Kiani Saxon added seven points and two steals.
Missouri Western out-rebounded Washburn 36-35 in Wednesday's game, paced by Fields' game-high 14 boards.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After playing to a 2-2 tie, MWSU went on an 8-0 run with 17:00 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Fields, to take a 10-2 lead. The Griffons then maintained that lead and entered halftime with a 38-30 advantage. Western relied on its 3-point shooting in the period, knocking down six shots to account for 18 of its 38 points.
Washburn (15-7, 11-5 MIAA) proceeded to take a 54-50 lead before MWSU went on a 5-0 run to seize a 55-54 lead with 4:44 to go in the contest. Washburn re-asserted control, outscoring the Griffons 10-8 the rest of the way. Tied up late, Washburn took a definite 64-63 lead with two seconds remaining after Jarmell Johnson was fouled and sent to the free-throw line. He made one, and MWSU could not get a shot off to end the game.
GAME NOTES
- This is Fields' seventh double-double of the season and the 18th of his career.
- Western ended the game with a 36-35 rebounding advantage
- Fields led the Griffons with 19 points.
- Washburn is currently receiving votes in the NABC Top-25 Poll.
UP NEXT
Western goes on to face Emporia State (14-10, 7-9 MIAA) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. inside White Auditorium in Topeka, Kansas. The Hornets have lost two in a row, most recently falling 64-61 to No. 12 Northwest Missouri State on Wednesday.
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