ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western men's basketball team (17-13, 13-6 MIAA) wrapped up the program's most successful season in 10 years with a 94-80 win over Washburn (16-12, 11-8) on Saturday afternoon. The 13th MIAA win of the season matched the total from the previous three seasons, combined, and was the most for the program in 18 years.
Missouri Western's first win over the Ichabods in four years came via a big Griffon run to start the second half. After taking a 36-35 lead to halftime, MWSU started the second half with a 13-2 run and built its biggest lead of the game, 20, with 3:44 to go. Missouri Western went 12 for 19 from long range in the second half after going 4 of 10 in the first. The Griffons shot 58.8% from the field in a 58-point second half.
Prior to the game, seniors Tyus Millhollin, Jason Jones and Beau Baker were recognized. The trio combined for 40 points in the game.
NOTABLES
- 16 made 3-point field goals in the game gave the Griffons 292 on the season, breaking the program record of 290 set in the 1994-95 season
- Tyus Millhollin broke the school record with 10, 3-point field goals in the game and tied the program record for individual 3s in a season with 96
- The Griffons scored 20 points off 13 Washburn turnovers while the Ichabods managed seven points on 11 giveaways by the Griffs
- MWSU also scored 23 fast break points to five for Washburn
- Millhollin scored a career-high 34 points in his final game in the MWSU Fieldhouse. The senior guard went 11 of 18 from the field, 10 of 15 from 3-pointr range and added three assists.
- Tyrell Carrolll scored 20 points on 8 of 16 shooting with a team-high five rebounds, nine assists and five steals
- JaRon Thames was 5 of 10 from the field with 14 points and four rebounds
- Reese Glover went 5 of 8 from the field and 3 of 5 from long range, scoring 13 points
- Tony Chukwuemeke matched Carroll's team-high rebound total with five
SEASON NOTABLES
- First winning season in 10 years
- Most overall wins in 10 years
- Most conference wins in 18 years
- Highest conference finish in 10 years
- Matched conference win total from previous three seasons combined
- Longest home win (11) streak in 17 years
- Most home wins (12) in 14 years
- Longest overall win streak (7) in 18 years
- First win over a ranked opponent in seven years
- Most total points (2,374) in 18 years
- Most total rebounds in more than 20 years
- Most assists in 10 years
- Most field goals 12 years
- Most 3-point field goals in program history
UP NEXT
Missouri Western will face Washburn once again in the opening round of the MIAA Championships on March 6 at 6 p.m. inside Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Griffons finished fourth in the standings and will be the No. 4 seed while Washburn tied for fifth with Northeastern State, but got the No. 5 seed via tiebreaker.
--- MWSU Athletics ---