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TOPEKA, Kan. – The Northeastern State men's basketball team fell 75-63 at Washburn University Saturday evening inside Lee Arena.
 
The RiverHawks (11-7, 6-5 MIAA) continued their free-fall down the league standings, as they have now lost five of their last six games after starting the MIAA season 5-0. The Ichabods improved to 14-3 overall and 7-3 in the conference.
 
Senior guard Bryton Hobbs did not start for the first time in his two-year career, but he was still able to lead all scorers with 24 points. Junior forward Curtis Evans was the only other member of the team in double figures, as he finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
 
NSU shot 36.7 percent (22-for-60) from the field, 32 percent (8-for-25) from behind the three-point line and 68.8 percent (11-for-16) at the free-throw line. Washburn hit 43.1 percent (25-for-58) from the field, 34.5 percent (10-for-29) from downtown and 62.5 percent (15-for-24) at the line.
 
Leon Flowers led WU with 22 points, and Korey Fisher poured in 20. Kyle Wiggins added 13, and Alex North finished with 10 points and 20 rebounds.
 
Northeastern State jumped out to a 7-0 lead to start the game, but Washburn went on an 8-0 run and never trailed again. The Ichabods scorched their way to a 34-15 lead at the 6:38 mark of the first half, and they maintained a double-digit halftime advantage at 43-31.
 
The RiverHawks were never able to get the deficit back into single digits in the second half as the home team coasted to the 12-point victory.
 
Washburn scored 43 points in the first half and just 32 in the second 20 minutes. This marked the first time since the Harding game on Nov. 13 (and just the second time all season) that NSU held an opponent to fewer points in the second half than what they scored in the first half.
 
The RiverHawks are back in action at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at Pittsburg State.
 
Scoring Summary
Northeastern State              31        32         63
Washburn                            43        32         75
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH LARRY GIPSON
Opening Statement…
"There were some bright moments tonight, but we just got hit with a haymaker. Washburn made nine three's in the first half. Probably five of those were contested about as well as we could contest. They shot the ball really well early to build a lead, and we just couldn't find a way back. They also hurt us on the boards. We didn't block out well. (Alex North) really hurt us. We couldn't keep him off the glass."
 
On bright spots from the loss…
"I thought Jeremy McDonald played better tonight. I also thought Amir Gilliam had a better game. At times we ran our offense better than we have lately. We just have a long ways to go (to become a better team). We have to come back in Monday and get back to work."
 
On Bryton Hobbs not starting for the first time in his career…
"That was a coach's decision. It was an internal situation and it has been handled."
 
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