Northwest 59
Wsahburn 80

Bearcat Numbers
Points
NW: Austin Meyer - 18
W U: Jerad Head - 18

Rebounds
NW: Byron Jackson - 9
WU: Troy Douglas - 11

Assists
NW: Shaw/Gardner - 2
WU: Jeremy Cunningham - 5

Steals
NW: Five with 1
WU: Mims/Head - 2

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The No. 6-ranked Northwest Missouri State men's basketball team had an opportunity to move in to a tie for first place with a victory over No. 5 Washburn Wednesday night at Lee Arena. But the Bearcats suffered through a scoring drought and dropped an 80-59 decision to the Ichabods.

Northwest trailed just 22-20 with 5:31 remaining in the first half when Sky Wilson (Jr., Indio, Calf.) scored on a layup. The Bearcats had five possessions with a chance to tie or take the lead and came away empty. The Bearcats managed just one Jesse Shaw (Jr., Lincoln, Neb.) three-pointer over the final five minutes of the first half.

Meanwhile, Washburn scored 14 points over that same stretch and took a 36-23 lead into the locker room at halftime. Two Bearcat turnovers to open the second half led to four Washburn points and the deficit was 17 just 39 seconds into the second period. Wilson scored with 17:45 remaining to make it 42-25. Washburn scored eight straight over the course of the next 1:30 to take a 50-25 lead.

In all, Washburn outscored Northwest 28-5 over a span of 9:14 covering the end of the first half and the beginning of the second. Austin Meyer (Soph., Blue Springs, Mo.) finally got Northwest going in the second half with a three-pointer at the 15:59 mark. Meyer scored 13 straight points, sparking a 22-8 Bearcat outburst. Northwest pulled within 11, 58-47 on a Byron Jackson (Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.) jumper with 10 minutes remaining.

But the 'Cats could get no closer. Washburn pushed its advantage back to as many as 21 in the final minute and won by that margin.

Northwest falls to 21-3 overall and 12-3 in the MIAA. Washburn improved to 22-1 overall and 14-1 in the MIAA.