Hargett's free throws help Ichabods survive double-overtime win in opener

Nov. 15, 2006

Box Score | Season Statistics

Junior guard Grant Hargett hit a pair of free throws with three seconds left in regulation to lead Washburn to a 77-72 double-overtime win over Kansas Wesleyan in the season opener for the Ichabods Wednesday at Lee Arena. With the win head coach Bob Chipman moved all alone into second in victories as a coach in the MIAA with his 380th win since joining the MIAA in 1989-90. Washburn (1-0) will play Fort Hays State Friday at 7 p.m. Central time in the first game of the Eastern New Mexico tournament. WU will then either play ENMU or Western State on Saturday in the four-team tournament.

KWU’s Trey Sims hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to give KWU the lead and as the Ichabods, down 58-56, were trying to get the ball up the court for a last-second shot, Hargett was fouled with WU in the double bonus. Making his Ichabod debut, Hargett sunk both shots and sent the game into overtime.

The two teams each scored eight points in the first overtime and then the Ichabods outscored KWU 11-6 in the second extra period to get the win.

Junior forward Brady Sisk came off the bench to lead Washburn with 19 points and had five rebounds. Senior guard Michael Williams had 16 points, senior forward Frank Phifer had 14 and sophomore forward Paul Byers had 10. Williams and Phifer were each making their Washburn debut.

The Coyotes controlled the game early in the first half and had an eight-point lead at 13:09. The Ichabods regained the lead at 21-20 when Sisk hit a jumper and Washburn took a 33-30 lead into halftime. KWU out-shot the Ichabods 46 percent to 45 percent and out-rebounded them 17-16 during the first period.

In the second half Washburn was out-rebounded 22-9 and shot just 35 percent. Late in the game Sims made a pair of free throws to give KWU a 55-54 lead. Byers then made a jumper to give WU a one-point lead. Sims’ 3 on the other end gave the Coyotes a two-point lead, setting up Hargett’s free throws.

Hargett finished with nine points and was 7-for-8 from the line. He led the ’Bods with seven assists. Junior forward Kyle Snyder led with eight rebounds and Phifer led with a pair of blocks.

Chipman tied Boyd King, the coach at Truman from 1946-71, with his 379th win last year. The win to open this season put him all alone in second behind current Missouri Western State coach Tom Smith who has over 400 wins.

Washburn moved to 70-30-1 all-time in season openers, 26-2 under Chipman and 22-1 in home openers at Lee Arena. The Ichabods snapped a five-game losing streak that they carried over from last year and improved to 28-22 in overtimes, playing their second double-overtime game in two years. Washburn is now 6-6 all-time in 12 games that went into at least double-overtime.