TOPEKA, Kan. -- Northeastern State put up a strong fight but Washburn outlasted the RiverHawks 82-70 on Thursday evening at Lee Arena.  The Ichabods (12-3, 6-0 MIAA) who were leading the MIAA heading into their tussle with NSU never took a double-digit lead until the final seconds while the RiverHawks (3-12, 0-7 MIAA) clung onto a two-possession deficit for a good part of the evening. 

Jamir Andrews scored 14 of his team leading 17 points in the second half with the RiverHawks having a fairly balanced scoresheet.  Isaiah Bellamy, Coryon Mason, and Trent Cantrell all had nine points, with Tanner Mouse just behind with eight.  Montre' Williams had seven points and six assists.

Northeastern State tied the game 11 times against an Ichabods' squad that has won its last ten contests in a row.  Both teams traded jabs back-and-forth down the stretch with Washburn holding a marginal advantage.  With Washburn leading 72-64 with 2:14 left in regulation, Andrews sank a three-pointer to make it a two-possession contest.  However, NSU would go 0-for-3 from the field the rest of the way while the 'Bods iced the contest at the line with ten free-throws. 

Bellamy and Josh Bougher led NSU with five rebounds each but they trailed the Ichabods by five on the glass with 32 as a team.  The RiverHawks had their second best shooting night on the road this season going 43.5-percent (27-62) from the field while going a season best 42.3-percent (11-26) at the arc; Washburn went 51.8-percent (29-56) on their side of the floor.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
4 – Andrews had his fourth straight game in double-figures and he has had 12 this season.
13 –  The win for Washburn was their 13th in a row at home, they are 8-0 this season in Lee Arena.
18 – Northeastern State was limited to 18 points in the paint, while Washburn scored 42.
 
COMING UP NEXT
Northeastern State will remain on the road to face Emporia State on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.  The Hornets (8-7, 3-3) played on Wednesday evening and won at home over Central Oklahoma, 71-69.