MANHATTAN, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods spotted Kansas State a quick 9-0 lead to start the game and battled the rest of the way in its third and final Big 12 exhibition game of the season in a 68-56 loss to the Wildcats. Washburn opens the regular season against Augustana on Friday in Sioux Falls, S.D.

After the Wildcats jumped out to the 9-0 lead hitting their first three 3-pointers of the afternoon. Washburn trailed 12-1 with 15:35 remaining in the opening half before going on a 10-2 run capped by a 3-pointer by Alex North with 10:45 left.

The Wildcats pushed the lead back to 13 at 26-13 to play before Washburn trimmed it back to nine before Kansas State took a 32-22 lead into the halftime break.

Washburn scored the first four points of the second half cutting the Wildcat lead down to six twice and then after a jumper by Turon Parker, the Ichabods trailed by five at 37-32 with 14:08 to play before an 11-2 run by the Wildcats stretched the lead to 14 with 10:48 to play in the game. Washburn pulled back the lead back to nine 58-49 with under three minutes to play on a 3-pointer by Kevin House.

The Wildcats pushed their lead out to 17 before a 3-pointer by Colton Anderson and a lay up by Cameron Wiggins as the Wildcats won 68-56.

North led a balanced Ichabod attack with nine points. Prince Samuels had eight points and Stephon Drane and Parker each had seven. 

Marcus Foster had 17 points and six rebounds to lead the Wildcats.

Washburn shot 38 percent in the game and improved from 6 of 23 in the first half shooting to 14 of 30 in the second half matching Kansas State's second half shooting as the Wildcats outscored the Ichabods 36 to 34 in the second half.

Kansas State held a 35 to 34 rebound advantage using 17 offensive rebounds for 13 second chance points and turned 19 Ichabod turnovers into 28 points.