TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Washburn Ichabods closed the second half of a 5-2 run tying the score at 72, but were whistled for a season-high 32 fouls falling in their MIAA opener at Northeastern State 81-78 in overtime on Monday night in Tahlequah, Okla. Washburn returns home to host Emporia State on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Lee Arena.
 
In the extra period, NSU drew first blood scoring on a layup by Obi Agu with 3:40 to play taking a 74-72 lead. NSU hit a jumper with 2:45 to go taking a 76-72 lead before Andrew Orr scored off an offensive rebound with 2:12 left scoring his 20^th point of the night.
 
NSU hit a two of three free throws after a foul on a 3-point attempt by Damon Bailey as the RiverHawks pushed the lead to 78-74. Orr hit a pair of free throws as Washburn pulled with two at 78-76 with 1:24 to go.
 
NSU came up empty on their next trip and Orr scored again with 37 seconds to go tying the score at 78. NSU drew a foul with two seconds on the shot clock and nine on the game clock but Christian Cook was fouled on a 3-point attempt going on to hit all three taking an 81-78 lead. Washburn's potential game-tying 3-pointer was off the target and the Ichabods fell to the RiverHawks for the third game in a row.
 
The Ichabods trailed at the break 31-28 after jumping out to a lead of 7-0 as Michael Keegan scored five of Washburn's first seven points. Washburn led 28-27 with 2:24 to go in the half but the RiverHawks scored the last five points of the frame from the free throw line taking the three-point lead into the locker room.
 
Washburn shot 12 of 28 in the first half from the field, but went 0 of 6 from 3-point range while the RiverHawks were 10 of 19 and 2 of 7 from deep. NSU was also 9 of 16 in the first 20 minutes going out to the one-possession lead.
 
To start the second half on a 14-4 run to take a 42-35 lead with Andrew Orr scoring six straight points for Washburn. The teams traded baskets and after a jumper by Levi Braun putting Washburn up 46-43, NSU ripped off an 8-0 run taking a 50-46 lead with 10:43 to play on a pair of back-to-back dunks.
 
After Washburn trimmed the RiverHawk lead back to one at 50-49, NSU pushed out to a 57-53 lead with 7:59 to go. NSU would then go on to lead by seven with 5:48 to play before a Jayden Hibbitt 3-pointer pulled Washburn back within four at 65-51 with 5:21 to play.
 
After a pair of free throws by Brady Christiansen and another jumper by Hibbitt, the Ichabods were down one at 66-65 with 3:48 to play. The teams traded baskets and after an Ichabod foul, NSU went back up 70-67 with 2:04 remaining.
 
Orr scored on a layup with 1:40 to go and was fouled and after hitting the free throw tied the score at 70. NSU came back with a bucket of its own to regain the lead with 1:31 to go at 72-70. On Washburn's next possession, their jumper came up short and then NSU was fouled with 39 seconds to go but missed free throws to hold on to its two-point lead. Washburn's Christiansen was fouled on the ensuing possession and hit both free throws tying the score at 72 with 20 seconds to play. The RiverHawk layup was missed sending the game to overtime.
 
The 32 fouls by the Ichabods were the most by a Washburn squad since being called for 30 at Central Oklahoma on Dec. 9, 2021. Overall three of Washburn's starters fouled out in the game with Orr finishing with four.
 
Orr led the Ichabods finishing with a career-high 24 points on 9 of 13 shooting going 6 of 7 from the free throw line. Keegan had 17 with seven boards. Hibbitt and Jaden Monday each had nine. Cook had 28 to lead all scorers going 12 of 13 from the free throw line.
                   
Washburn finished 29 of 58 from the field going 3 of 15 from deep and 17 of 24 from the free throw line. NSU was 25 of 43 for a 58 percent clip hitting 5 of 14 from three while attempting 42 free throws connecting on 26 of them - the 42 being the most attempted by an Ichabod opponent by UCO last season.
 
Washburn falls to 21-12 all-time in MIAA openers since joining the league and to 44-38 in overtime games, 24-22 in overtime away games and 25-26 vs MIAA opponents and 2-1 against NSU in overtime contest.