By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn University men won their fifth game in a row Saturday, posting a wire-to-wire 66-56 win over Northeastern State at Lee Arena.
The Ichabods, who improved to 10-9 overall and 7-6 in the MIAA, jumped out to a 7-1 lead to start the game while holding the RiverHawks (10-9, 7-8) to zero of eight shooting from the outset.
Junior Tyler Nelson scored 16 points in Washburn's 66-56 MIAA home win over Northeastern State on Saturday. [File photo]
The RiverHawks never led in the game but tied it at 9-9 with 11:28 to play in the opening half before the Ichabods used a 7-0 run to jump out to a 16-9 lead at the under-10 timeout.
Washburn would have another 7-0 spurt later in the frame and would lead by as many as 13 before taking a 33-22 lead into halftime.
Washburn moved out to its biggest lead of the game at 44-29 with 16:02 on a lay up by sophomore Andrew Orr before the RiverHawks cut the lead to three at 46-43 with 10:37 with a 14-2 run as Northeastern hit six of seven shots from the field while the Ichabods struggled to one of shooting during the 5:05 stretch.
A Connor Deffebaugh jumper pushed the lead back to five, but NSU hit a 3-pointer by leading scorer Dillon Bailey before freshman WU Brady Christiansen responded with a 3-pointer to return the Ichabod lead to five points.
With Washburn leading by two at 51-49 with 7:03 to go, Hayden product Levi Braun connected on a 3-pointer, followed by a breakaway dunk by Michael Keegan that pushed the lead to seven at 56-49.
NSU trimmed the lead back to five, but Braun hit another 3-pointer to boost as the Ichabods snapped their three-game losing streak to the RiverHawks improving to 4-0 in games against Northeastern State played in Lee Arena.
Junior Tyler Nelson scored 16 points to lead the Ichabods and Orr finished with 11 points and eight rebounds. Jarmell Johnson had eight points and Keegan finished with seven points, eight rebounds, four assists and a steal.
The Ichabods shot 41 percent for the game going (24 of 58) and went 12 of 14 from the free throw line.
Wahburn held a 39-29 rebounding advantage and forced 18 RiverHawk turnovers, converting them into 18 points.
Washburn's bench outscored NSU 23-2 in the game.
Washburn will now go on a three-game roadtrip, starting on Wednesday at Missouri Western.
