Box Score KEARNEY, Neb. -- A hot-shooting Lopers squad and a slow start was too much to overcome as the Ichabods fell 85-78 at Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday. The Ichabods return home on Thursday to face Central Oklahoma.

After trailing by as many as 15 in the first half the Ichabods battled back to cut the lead to 10 at 39-29 at the break after falling behind 12-2 and 17-7 to start the game. Washburn shot 42 percent from the field while the Lopers shot 62 percent hitting 13 of 21 shots including 4 of 7 shots from 3-point range.

Washburn opened the second half with a pair of buckets cutting the lead to five, but a 3-pointer by the Lopers pushed it right back to eight with under 19 minutes to play in the game.

A 3-pointer by Korey Fisher trimmed the lead back to five at 51-46 with 14:46, but a traditional 3-point play by the Lopers pushed it back to eight with 14:26 to go in the game.

The Lopers would go on an 11-3 run after the Ichabods trimmed the margin to five pushed in back to 13 at 65-52 with 10:43 to play in the game.

With under eight minutes to play, Washburn cut the lead to seven four times and to five twice and to four twice but could not get any closer as the Lopers held on for the win. 

Key led four Ichabods in doubles figures with a career-high 25 points. Kyle Wiggins had 18, Fisher had 15 and Alex North had 12. Washburn's bench scored three points in the game.

Connor Beranek led the Lopers with 32 points.