MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Washburn Ichabods could not overcome a slow start in a 79-53 loss to No. 4-ranked Northwest Missouri on Saturday in Bearcat Arena. The Ichabods will return to action on Wednesday at Newman on Feb. 8 in Wichita wrapping up a three-game road trip.
 
The Bearcats (21-2, 14-2 MIAA)  jumped out to a 13-4 lead eight minutes in the game, but the Ichabods came back to trim the lead back to four at 13-9 on a lay up by Brady Christansen before the Bearcats pushed out to a lead as many as 25 in the half taking a 39-16 lead into the halftime break.
 
After shooting 29 percent in the first half, the Ichabods improved to 46 percent in the second half hitting 11 of 24 shots and were outscored by the Bearcats 40-37 in the final 20 minutes.
 
Andrew Orr led the Ichabods with 17 points on 5 of 6 shooting and Jarmell Johnson had 13 off the bench. Emmanuel Byrd had six points and eight rebounds.
 
Northwest was led by Wes Dreamer with 25.
 
Washburn (10-11, 7-8 MIAA) outrebounded the Bearcats 30-29, but the Bearcats outscored the Ichabods 22 to 5 on points off turnovers as Washburn committed 16 in the game.