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TOPEKA, Kan. --  The Washburn Ichabods fell for the first time this season in Lee Arena dropping to 7-1 on the year dropping a 70-63 decision to Northwest Missouri. The loss drops the Ichabods to 13-6 overall and 7-4 in the MIAA. Washburn will be back in action on Saturday in St. Joseph when they will take on Missouri Western at 3:30 p.m.

Washburn jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the first three minutes of the game, but the Bearcats responded with a 14-0 run of their own over the next 5:08 to take a 15-7 lead with 11:48 to play in the first half. The run was halted by Will McNeill who connecteed on a lay up pulling Washburn within six. The Bearcats (15-3, 9-3 MIAA) would continue to hold the lead the remainder of the half until Washburn took the led at 32-31 on a jumper by Zack Riggins, but the Bearcats DeShaun Cooper scored on a drive before the half staking Northwest to a 33-32 advantage entering the break.

The Ichabods kept Northwest within 10 points until a pair of free throws by Alex Sullivan gave the Bearcats a double-digit lead with 10:01 to play but the Ichabods came back with a run of their own on back-to-back 3-pointers by Bobby Chipman and Jeff Reid on consecutive possessions cut the lead back to four with 8:29 to play in the game. Sullivan pushed the lead back to three for Northwest after a three of his own, then Chipman put in a Washburn miss to trim the lead back to five at 57-52 with 7:51 remaining.

Washburn kept the pressure on cutting the Northwest lead to one at 57-56 with 6:30 to play after a pair of Reid charity tosses the Ichabods forced a turnover but came up empty on a 3-point attempt. The Bearcats would hit three of their next four free throws to build the lead back to four with 4:07 remaining and a lay up by McNeill cut the margin back to two. Washburn cut the lead back to one with 1:07 to go in the game after a free throw by Chipman, but the Bearcats would hit all six of their free throws in the final 34 seconds to hang on for the seven-point win.

Washburn was led by McNeill who had 24 points and Chipman recorded his first Washburn double double with 11 points and 10 rebounds with seven coming on the offensive end. The Bearcats had five reach double figures led by Reinders' 16 with 14 coming in the first half. Kyle Haake had 14 to go with 10 rebounds while DeAngelo Hailey had 14 as well. Sullivan had 12 and DeShaun Cooper added 11.

Washburn was outrebounded 31 to 26 while the Bearcats shot 53 percent against the Ichabods hitting 20 of 38 shots. Washburn finished at 38 percent hitting 21 off 55 attempts. The Bearcats finished 23 of 29 from the free throw line while the ichabods were 16 of 21. The Ichabods did force 16 Northwest turnoves leading to 22 points for Washburn.