CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Washburn Ichabods scored a season-high 54 points in the first half taking a 17-point lead into the break but let the lead slip away falling 88-81 at Rogers State on Saturday. Washburn returns to action hosting Missouri Western on Dec. 17 in Lee Arena.
 
After shooing 57 percent in the first half hitting 20 of 35 shots and 7 of 13 from the 3-point line, the Ichabods cooled to 6 of 22 shooting in the second half for a 27 percent clip and hit 3 of 8 from the 3-point stripe in the loss. Opposite of the Ichabods, the Hillcats were 14 of 25 from the field in the opening half, Rogers State heated up in the final 20 minutes hitting 16 of 25 shots for a blistering 64 percent.
 
With the Ichabods leading 54-37 at the break, the Hillcats came out on an 11-5 run over the first 5:19 of the second half, but after a 3-pointer by Jaden Monday and a layup by Andrew Orr, Washburn pushed the lead back to 16 at 64-48 with 13:33 to go. An 8-0 by the Hillcats trimmed Washburn's lead to 64-56 with 11:43 to go and then.
 
A jumper by Tyler Nelson with 8:25 to go pushed the back to 10 at 75-65, but that point the Hillcats outscored the Ichabods 23-6 including an 11-0 over the final 4:13 of the game to send Washburn to its third-straight loss.
 
Orr led the Ichabods with 23 points pacing four Ichabods in double figures with Tyler Nelson scoring 15 making his first start of the season. Monday had 13 and Connor Deffebaugh had 10.
 
Joey Saracco had 22 points to lead the Hillcats.
 
Washburn finished 19 of 24 from the free throw line with Orr going 7 of 9 while the Hillcats were 24 of 31.
 
The Hillcats outrebounded the Ichabods 27 to 26 while scoring 26 points off of 17 Washburn turnovers.