TOPEKA, Kan. – Northeastern State suffered its third defeat in a row and fell 87-60 to a hot-handed Washburn club on Thursday evening. 

Caleb Smith paced NSU in scoring with 22 points and eight rebounds.  Trent Cantrell added eight and Bradley George had seven. 

The Ichabods (18-5, 11-3 MIAA) made the first bucket of the game and never trailed the RiverHawks shooting a blazing hot 72.7-percent (16-22) in the first half of play.  Washburn came out of the second half making their first four buckets extend their lead past 30 before leveling off the rest of the way.  

Most of Washburn's damage came from long range where they dropped 17 treys on the RiverHawks, their second highest total of the season.  

Northeastern State shot 42.1-percent (24-57) from the field and was out-rebounded by six with 36 as a team. 

Thursday's loss will drop the RiverHawks to 12-11 overall and 6-8 in the MIAA. 

TIP-INS
First time in the last 11 games that NSU has been out-rebounded … third straight game NSU has been out-shot ... halted a three-game road winning streak for the RiverHawks … Josh Ihek had a season-high four blocks against the Ichabods.

COMING UP
Northeastern State will head westward to face Emporia State on Saturday afternoon for a 3:30 p.m. tip-off.