After defeating Central Oklahoma on Jan. 22, the Washburn men’s basketball team looked to finish out its tour in Oklahoma undefeated with a win over Northeastern State on Saturday, Jan. 24.

The first five minutes of the game showed a fiery Washburn team. The Bods quickly gained a 17-5 lead over NSU and were scoring with ease. However, the great start by the Ichabods was followed by an agonizing 10 minute scoring drought.

While Washburn struggled shooting, NSU was catching fire and pulled in front 18-17 after a 13-0 run with just under seven minutes left in the first half.

NSU was scorching hot from behind the 3-point line and after making five consecutive 3-pointers, the home team led 30-21 with three minutes left in the half.

The teams went to the locker room at halftime with NSU leading 36-26.

Washburn shot the ball well early in the contest, but went ice cold and only scored nine points in the last 15 minutes of the half. Washburn shot 39 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range in the first half.

The Riverhawks shot 52 percent from the field, made 9 of 15 3-pointers and received tremendous help from their bench in the first half.

For the first 10 minutes of the second half, the Ichabods were chipping away at NSU’s 10 point halftime lead.

With eight minutes left in the game, senior guard Kyle Wiggins made a layup and gave Washburn a 51-50 lead. Then the Ichabods’ last lead of the game came after a pair of free throws by Korey Fisher dropped, which made the score 56-55 with five and a half minutes left.

NSU responded with back-to-back 3-pointers and led in scoring the rest of the way.

Freshman forward David Salach made a free throw to cut the NSU lead to four with under two minutes to go. But the Riverhawks closed the game shooting 14-14 from the free throw line and sealed the victory with a score of 80-73.

Alex North led the Ichabods with a double-double that consisted of 21 points and 10 rebounds. Kyle Wiggins also finished in double digit scoring with 16 points.

Washburn takes on Nebraska-Kearney 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Lee Arena.