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Missouri Western Men Down Washburn in OT
By David Boyce
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn trailed the entire second half. Defeat was certain. And then junior De'Andre Washington stepped up like he did all night for Washburn.
Washington tossed in a miracle three-pointer with 0.7 seconds left that tied the game against Missouri Western and sent it into overtime Monday night at Lee Arena.
It was Washington's 30th point of the game, and he wasn't done. Washington scored the first points in overtime, a three-pointer.
"It looked good at the beginning and then we lost momentum," Washington said. "I don't know if we lost energy, but it all fell apart. We got to learn how to finish games out as a team."
That's exactly what the Griffons did do after a disappointing finish in regulation.
Missouri Western regained its poise and scored the next 12 points in overtime on the way to a 75-69 victory.
"I've done this for many years and the team that comes back emotionally like that usually has a little letdown," Missouri Western coach Tom Smith said. "Having said that, the kid throws in that three and I don't know how it went in.
"I told our kids emotionally we are fine. The thing I'm happy about is we got the win missing that many (16) free throws. When you survive that type of thing it is important."
Senior James Bush started the Griffons' game-winning run with a traditional three-point play.
Dominique Thuston followed with a bucket. Bush added a dunk followed by another basket by Thuston.
"We just had to come out with energy and play harder and play smarter than the other team and that's what did to get the lead," said Thuston, who finished with 15 points.
Missouri Western improved to 8-3 overall and 3-1 in the MIAA. Washburn dropped to 7-4 and 1-3 and now faces a tough three-game road stretch with games at Fort Hays State, Central Missouri and Southwest Baptist, the top three teams in the MIAA.
Missouri Western senior Quentin Noblin made just one basket in the first half. It was one that seemed to drain the energy out of Washburn.
With the game tied and the first-half clock winding down, Noblin drilled a three-pointer that sent the Griffons into halftime with a 23-20 lead.
Only Noblin's trey separated the two teams in the first 20 minutes.
Most of the second half was an entirely different story. Missouri Western opened a 51-42 lead and appeared to be in complete control.
At times, Washburn had trouble stopping the inside play of Missouri Western senior Marcus Rhodes, whose consecutive baskets gave the Griffons the nine-point advantage. Rhodes finished with a team-high 17 points.
But then Washburn started playing with the desperation of a team knowing it needed a win at home before heading on the road.
A free throw by William McNeil helped Washburn close to 53-49 with 3:24 left.
Just when it looked like Washburn was making a serious run at Missouri Western, Noblin drilled the Ichabods again with a three-pointer, staking his team to a 56-49 lead with 2:50 left.
It was only the second made basket by Noblin, but it was again very important.
Missouri Western increased its lead to 59-51 with 1:30 left. A three-point play by Washington helped Washburn close to 59-54 with 1:25 left.
Washburn drew closer at 59-57 on a basket by McNeil with 19.7 seconds left.
Martin Nolan gave Missouri Western a three-point lead when he made one of two free throws with 18 seconds left.
And that left enough time for Washington's heroics.
"I was expecting it a little bit because he was on the whole night," Thuston said. "He played the best he could. I give him that."
But it wasn't enough. Still, Washington had a memorable game, making 11 of 16 from the field, including four for six from beyond the three-point arc. He finished with 33 points.
To reach David Boyce, contributing writer for the MIAA, e-mail dboyce@themiaa.com.
