Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior guard Martin Mitchell scored 23 points and the 13th-ranked Washburn Ichabods shot 55% from the floor to defeat Nebraska-Kearney, 72-56, Saturday at the Health & Sports Center.

This was the first matchup between the two since February 1990. Washburn (10-2, 3-1) has won six straight over the Lopers (4-10, 1-5) but UNK still leads the all-time series, 17-14.

UNK, shooting a season-low 33.9% (19 of 56), trailed 16-13 at the 12:20 mark after a bucket by reserve junior points Kendal Glidden (Benkelman).

Washburn followed with a 12-3 run that covered the next eight minutes. Mitchell scored five straight to start the key spurt with back court mate Will McNeill tallying four of his 13 points.

The Lopers trailed 36-25 at the break and could never get its offense going in the second half. Scoring 40 of its points inside, Washburn had a plus five rebounding margin on the day and also scored 16 fast break points.

Martin went 9 of 15 from the floor (4 of 9 threes) while also supplying five assists. Washburn had 24 dimes on 30 made field goals with four starters having at least four.

Besides Martin, McNeill (13 points, 11 rebounds, four assists) and post Bobby Chipman (10 rebounds, eight points, seven assists) had strong efforts.

UNK saw sophomore Pierre Newton (14) and senior Jon Henderson (13) score in double digits with sophomore Tyler Shields (Kearney H.S.) having four points and six rebounds (four offensive).

Off the bench, Minden sophomore Ben Petersen had four rebounds, two points and two steals.

The Lopers host Central Missouri Wednesday night.