Box score | Season stats

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The eleventh-ranked SBU Bearcats had only one miss in 25 attempts on the night from the free throw line. That 96% accuracy helped the Bearcats to victory over the Washburn Ichabods Tuesday night. SBU won 73-62 to earn their 38th consecutive victory at home, the second longest streak in NCAA Division II, behind only Findlay's 43 games. 

"Our free throw shooting was huge," said SBU head coach Jeff Guiot. "We shot well and were tough in the second half. That toughness showed as we just played through 'til the end of the night." 

Tristan Steele led the Bearcats with 21 points, while Matt Rogers had 18 and Kurt Koenig added 14 points. Koenig also led with nine rebounds. "Tristan hit some big shots and Kurtis also came up big for us," added Guiot. 

The Bearcats (14-2, 5-1 MIAA) were held to 35% shooting from the field in the first half and led at halftime 36-28. SBU heated up in the second, going 13 of 25 (52%). Steele hit five of his team's seven treys on the night. Rogers led the sharp-shooting from the charity stripe, hitting all eight of his attempts, while three other players (Steele, Tomas Brock and Ivan Cropotov) were four of four. 

With 15 turnovers and just 11 assists, Guiot noted his team's need to pass better. "We are a good passing team but we just didn't show it tonight. Our spacing wasn't great and they were very physical. Washburn is a very good team and coach Chipman always gets them ready to play. They're better than their record shows and have played a tough schedule." 

The teams were within five points of each other for most of the first half, which included seven ties. SBU's largest margin in the first came just before halftime, when Cropotov's free throws pushed the margin to eight points (36-28). A three from Steele gave the Bearcats a 41-30 edge with three minutes gone in the second half.

The Ichabods (7-7, 1-6 MIAA) would battle back through much of the second half, and closed to within three points within 3:28 left. But a three from Steele fifteen seconds later and perfect free throw shooting down the stretch iced the game for the Bearcats. 

De'Andre Washington led the Ichabods with 22 points and eight rebounds. 

SBU travels to MIAA leader Fort Hays State on Saturday. Tipoff against the Tigers is 4 p.m. from the Gross Coliseum in Hays. Fort Hays is ranked #10 in the latest coaches poll and upset #1 and previously unbeaten Central Missouri, 81-71, in Warrensburg on Monday night.

NOTES:
• This was the third straight game that the Bearcats have held their opponent to 62 points.
• SBU has not lost at home since February 2007, a 74-64 setback to Fort Hays.
• The Bearcats were 21 of 21 from the foul line earlier this season (Nov. 28) against Dallas Baptist.
• SBU's 77.7% from the foul line continues to lead the MIAA and ranks 6th in the nation.