Starting introductions
The Washburn Ichabods, winners of six of their last seven games, will host Missouri Western at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17 in Lee Arena prior to taking two weeks off a game play before their next game at Central Missouri on New Year's Eve. The Ichabods (7-3, 2-1 MIAA) topped Truman last time out 67-54 on Dec. 10. The Griffons fell to then No. 10-ranked Fort Hays State 66-53 after defeating then No. 1-ranked Missouri Southern 75-67 on Dec. 7.

Game Quick Facts . . .
Game No. 11 - Washburn (7-3, 2-1 MIAA) vs Missouri Western (6-4, 1-3 MIAA)
Game Notes: Washburn | Missouri Western
Date: Dec. 17, 2011
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Topeka Kan.
Arena: Lee Arena
Radio: KTPK 106.9 FM
Online Audio: Through wusports.com (free)
Online Video: Through America One
Television: None
Live Stats: Through wusports.com
Washburn Head Coach: Bob Chipman (Kansas State, 1973) - 703-291, 33rd season
Missouri Western Head Coach: Tom Smith (Valparaiso, 1967) - 605-433, 35th season
Series History: Washburn leads 45-34
Last Meeting: Washburn won 87-74 on Jan. 29, 2011 in Topeka

Ichabods on the radio
Washburn basketball games can be heard live on KTPK 106.9 FM. The game can also be heard on the internet at www.wusports.com by following the “Live Audio” link on the basketball schedule page. Mark Elliott will have the call on the radio with Jake Lebahn providing color commentary.

The coaches
Washburn Ichabod head basketball coach Bob Chipman is in his 33rd season at the helm of the Ichabod basketball program. Chipman is 703-291 (.707) overall and he has 462 wins since the Ichabods joined the MIAA - the most of any teams in the league since the 1991-92 season. Chipman has led the Ichabods to the MIAA Tournament 19 times collecting an all-time league-best 29 wins going 29-16 with a .675 winning percentage during tournament play. In home games, Chipman has amassed a 409-77 (.840) record going 354-65 in Lee Arena and 54-12 in Whiting Fieldhouse. Chipman is 11th amongst all NCAA II coaches in winning percentage who have coached at least 10 seasons. Among that group, he is second in all-time coaching victories in active coaches in career victories. Among all coaches who have at least 10 years experience in DII, he is 25th in winning percentage and seventh in victories. At Washburn he has led the Ichabods to 11 conference regular season titles (9 MIAA), 11 NCAA Tournament appearances and the 1987 NAIA National Championship. Chipman is 38-29 against the Griffons.
Missouri Western head Tom Smith is in his 23rd season at Missouri Western and his 35th season overall as a collegiate head coach in this season. He is 232-156 overall on the Griffon bench and 605-433 overall.

Last time out for the Ichabods • WU 67, Truman 54 • 12/10/11
TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods won their sixth straight game over the Truman Bulldogs in Lee Arena and their ninth-in-the-last 10 overall in a 67-54 win improving to 7-3 overall and 2-1 in MIAA play. The Bulldogs dropped to 4-7 and 2-2 in conference play.
The Ichabods held the Bulldogs to seven of 23 shooting in the first half as Washburn never trailed in the game. The score was tied at two and then at four each before the Ichabods would go on an 18-2 run over the next 7:45 of the game to take control of the game. Washburn was 13 of 33 in the frame shooting nearly 40 percent in the half.
In the second half the Ichabods stretched their lead to 18 with 6:06 remaining, however the Bulldogs would cut the lead back to 11 with 1:18 to go on a pair of free throws by Andrew VanderZwaag cutting the Washburn lead to 63-52, but the Ichabods held Truman to one field goal the remainder of the way leading to the 13-point win.
Will McNeill led the Ichabods with 16 points adding six rebounds scoring 10 in the second half. Martin Mitchell added 10 and Bobby Chipman, Kyle Wiggins each had nine and Joseph Smith had a career-high eight off the bench to pace the Ichabods.
Tom Norton scored 12 off the bench to lead the Bulldogs hitting four 3-pointers. Mike Carlson had 11 before fouling out and Tyler Anderson and Seth Jackson each had 10.
Washburn won the battle on the boards 43 to 30 recording 14 offensive rebounds. Alex North had a game-high nine rebounds for the Ichabods.
Washburn was 26 of 62 from the field shooting 42 percent while the Bulldogs finished 17 of 50 for 34 percent.

About Missouri Western
The Griffons are 6-4 and 1-3 in MIAA play after falling last time out at Fort Hays State 66-53 on Nov. 10 in Hays. The Griffons have lost four of their last six games after starting the season with four straight wins. James Harris leads the team in scoring with 13.6 ppg right above T.J. Johnson's 13.4 ppg . Lavonte Douglas is scoring 12.5 ppg pulling down a team-high 7.4 rpg. The Griffons are averaging 67.3 ppg while allowing 63.6 ppg.
 
Series history with Missouri Western
Saturday's meeting will be the 80th meeting between the two schools with Washburn leading the series 45-34. The Ichabods are 21-19 against MWSU in MIAA games and 19-9 in Lee Arena. The Ichabods have dropped the last four games played in St. Joseph, not winning since a 77-62 victory on Jan. 27, 2007. In the MIAA Tournament the Ichabods are 3-4 against the Griffons. Since joining the MIAA, the Ichabods are 7-17 in MIAA games played in St. Joseph. The series is tied a 4-4 in overtime games.
 
Last time out for Missouri Western • #10 FSHU 66, MWSU 53
(Dec. 10, 2011) – (MWSU Sports Information) HAYS, Kan. – A dreadful first half by the Griffons cost them against the 10th ranked Fort Hays State Tigers falling 66-53 on Saturday afternoon. Nine different Griffons scored in the contest with Lavonte Douglas and Dylon Frantz leading the way with nine points apiece. Western falls to 6-4 overall and 1-3 in MIAA action.
The Griffon men struggled in all facets of the game in the first half against the Tigers scoring just four points in the first twelve and a half minutes. Western trailed by as many as 29 points (38-9) in the frame but continued to play hard cutting the Tiger lead to 41-17 at the break.
Western finished the half going 0-of-8 from long range making 5-of-31 field goal attempts. A bright spot for the Griffons was they connected on 77.8-percent (7-9) of their free throw attempts. Lavonte Douglas had five points and seven rebounds leading the way for Western.   
The Tigers shot 45.8-percent (11-24) from the floor and connected on 16-of-18 free throw attempts. The Tigers had nine different players score in the frame with Markus Yarbrough leading the charge off the bench with nine points.
The Tigers opened up a 28 point lead early in the second half but the Griffons kept battling cutting the lead to 17 at 45-28 after a Deionta Mitchell layup with 16:56 to play in the game. The Tigers were able to push their lead to 27 once again at 59-32 midway through the half to pretty much seal the victory.
Western made a push down the stretch holding the Tigers to just seven points in the final 11:21 of the game cutting the final margin down to 13 after Jordan Yurth's second three point basket of the game.
The Griffons shot 31.7-percent (20-63) from the half and 4-of-17 from beyond the arc. Douglas led the charge with 14 rebounds while Justin Reid made 3-of-5 shots for six points.
The Tigers shot 45.8-percent (22-48) from the field and connected on 17-of-20 free throws. Ten different Tigers scored with Yarbrough finishing with 11 points and Karron McKenzie dumping in 10. The Tigers improve to 8-1 overall and 2-1 in MIAA play.

Last meeting with Missouri Western • WU 87, MWSU 74 • 1/29/11
TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods remained the hottest team in the MIAA with their sixth straight win improving to 13-5 and 10-4 in MIAA play with an 87-74 win over Missouri Western Saturday night in Lee Arena.
The Ichabods trailed by no more than four points in the firsts half and did not trail at after a jumper by Brandon Scaife staking Washburn to an 18-17 lead with 13:49 to go in the game as the Ichabods would go on to lead by as many as 12 late in the first half. The Ichabods pushed the lead to seven at 24-17 before the Griffons cut the lead back to two at 24-22 under the 10 minute media timeout. The Ichabods pushed the lead back to eight on an 8-0 mini run, but again the Griffons cut the lead back to five at 34-29 before the Ichabods took the 45-35 lead into the break.
The Griffons cut the lead to nine at 46-37 with 17:46 to play in the game before Washburn would go on a 11-3 run after a pair of free throws by Logan Stutz, who scored a game-high 30 points. The Ichabods kept the Griffons at bay holding at least a double-digit lead until Missouri Western twice trimmed the lead to eight late in the game at 4:14 remaining and 3:33 remaining but the Ichabods finished the game 5 of 6 from the charity stripe in the final 2:36 to take the 13-point win.
Stutz went over 30 points for the second time this season while adding his fourth double double of the season with a game-high 11 rebounds. Stutz, who entered the game second in the nation in field goal percentage at 71 percent finished 12 of 15 from the field while going 6 of 7 from the field scoring 18 points in the second half. De'Andre Washington scored 11 of his 17 points in the second half and Nate Daniels scored a season-high 17 points - one shy of his career high shooting 6 of 8 from the field including 3 of 4 from 3-point range.
Jonathan Phelps scored a team-high 17 points off the bench to lead four Griffons in double figures.
Washburn finished the game 33 of 56 shooting 59 percent from the field including a blistering 20 of 33 in the opening stanza for a 61 percent clip. Western finished 24 of 56 for the game for a 43 percent average. Washburn held a 32 to 29 advantage on the glass and outscored the Griffons 50 to 26 in the paint.

Bod tweets . . . 140-character or less notes on the ichabods
• Washburn is allowing 25.8 ppg in the 1st half of games, 36.8 in the 2nd half #DoNotLetUp
• In Washburn's wins the Ichabods are -30 in turnovers, the losses they are +9 compared to their opponents #GoodHandsTeam
• The Ichabods are 5 of 51 (.098) from 3-point range in their three losses #Ouch
• Washburn is +12.2 in ppg in the paint compared to its opponents #gettheballinside
• Will McNeill is the only Ichabod averaging double figures (18.0 ppg) in the WU losses
• The game against the Griffons will be Bob Chipman's 995th game on the Ichabod bench recording a 703-291 record #winningformula
• Washburnis leading the MIAA in defensive field goal percentage at .386 #NoEasyShots
• Ichabods are leading the MIAA in rebounding defense at 31.4 rpg #Boards
• Washburn is leading the MIAA in rebounding margin at +6.4 #Windex
• Washburn is first in the MIAA in offensive rebounds at 13.4 rpg #SecondChances
• Will McNeill is third in the MIAA in scoring and 11th in rebounding (19.2 ppg/6.2 rpg) #HeIsAGuard
• Alex North is 9 of 9 in FT's in the final 5 minutes of games #Clutch
• North is also ninth in the MIAA in rebounding #GlassMan
• Bobby Chipman is 14th in the MIAA in rebounding #Boards
• North is second in the MIAA in FT percentage (22-25/.880) #Pure
• Will McNeill leads the MIAA in steals at 2.5 per game #QuickHands
• Martin Mitchell is averaging 15.0 ppg in MIAA play and 12.6 in the 10 games overall #PickingUpThePace

Ichabod Player Notes
#1  • Dejuan Lofton  • G • 5-11 • 185 • Jr. • Two of 4 from field (2-2 from 3's) in last two games played
#4  • Jared Henry  • G • 6-1 • 170 • So. • Has played in six game scoring seven points
#5  • Jeff Reid  • G • 6-6 • 190 • So. • Four assists against Truman tied a career high (third time)
#10  • Will McNeill  • G • 6-1 • 190 • Jr. • Needs 14 points to reach 700 for his career
#11  • Kyle Wiggins  • G • 6-2 • 165 • Fr. • Three steals against Truman was a career high
#12  • Martin Mitchell  • G • 6-0 • 185 • Jr. • Double figure points in 8 of 10 games this season
#14  • Christian Ulsaker  • F • 6-5 • 190 • Fr. • Has played in 9 of 10 games scoring 16 points
#15  • Mitch Allen  • G • 5-9 • 165 • Jr. • 13 of 14 field goal attempts have been from 3-point range
#20  • Bobby Chipman  • F • 6-8 • 210 • Jr. • Tied career high with 5 FT's against Truman (third time)
#21  • Joseph Smith  • F • 6-9 • 235 • Jr. • Career high 8 points, 2 assists, 2 blocks against Truman last game
#22  • Alex North  • F • 6-6 • 210 • So. • Averaging 6.8 rpg in last five games
#24  • Zack Riggins  • F • 6-6 • 230 • RS-Jr. • Has hit six straight free throws

Ichabod Basketball HIstory
Washburn is 1,411-977 (.590 in 2,388 games) in its 106th season of intercollegiate action. The Ichabods are the 10th-winningest team in NCAA Division II history and the 26th winningest team this decade. The Ichabods are 462-207 since joining the NCAA Division II ranks, which is the most since the 1989-90 season in the MIAA.

Home sweet home . . . the Ichabods in Lee Arena
The Ichabods are 355-65 (.848) all-time in Lee Arena - the 28th season of play. The Ichabods recorded a school-best 28-game winning streak from Nov. 19, 1993 to Feb. 8, 1995 in Lee Arena.

Up Next
Washburn will be off from game competition until Dec. 31 when they will have an afternoon New Year's Eve date with Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo., at 3:30 p.m. Washburn will have another road contest at Southwest Baptist on Jan. 3 before facing Missouri Southern in Topeka on Jan. 7.