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Starting introductions
The Washburn Ichabods will open the second half of the MIAA slate hosting current front-runner Northwest Missouri who is tied atop the conference standings with an 8-3 record in 11 games. The Ichabods (13-5, 7-3 MIAA) are one game back after taking a break from the conference race after bouncing D-I foe Nebraska Omaha for the second time this season last time out in a 78-56 win over the Mavericks. The Bearcats, (14-3, 8-3 MIAA) who are tied for the conference lead with Missouri Southern and Central Missouri, won at Emporia State last time out 71-45 on Sunday.

Game Quick Facts . . .
Game No. 19 - Washburn (13-5, 7-3 MIAA) vs Northwest Missouri (14-3, 8-3 MIAA)
Game Notes: Washburn | Northwest Missouri
Date: Jan. 25, 2012
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 www.sidearmstats.com
Washburn Head Coach: Bob Chipman (Kansas State, 1973) - 709-293, 33rd season
Northwest Missouri Head Coach: Ben McCollum (Northwest Missouri - 35-34, 3rd season
Series History / Streak: WU leads 57-34 / NWMSU - 1
Last Meeting: NWMSU won 65-59 on Dec. 3, 2011 in Maryville

Ichabods on 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 709-293 (.707) overall and he has 467 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 home record of 413-77 (.840) record going 359-65 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 34-18 vs Northwest Missouri.
Bearcats head coach Ben McCollum is 35-34 in his third season at Northwest Missouri. McCollum is the 20th head coach in the history of Northwest men's basketball. He replaced Steve Tappmeyer, who served as McCollum's coach for two seasons from 2001-03. In those two years, McCollum helped lead the Bearcats to a 51-12 record, including a 29-3 mark during the 2001-02 campaign that culminated with the program's first Elite Eight appearance. McCollum is 2-3 against the Ichabods.

Last time out for the Ichabods • WU 78, UNO 56 • 1/21/12
TOPEKA, Kan. -- For the second time this season the Washburn Ichabods knocked off NCAA Division I foe Nebraska Omaha to improve to 13-5 on the season after topping the Mavericks 78-56 on Saturday in Lee Arena.
The Ichabods jumped out to leads to 11-0, 19-4 and 23-8 never looking back in the win leading from start to finish. The Ichabods were hot early hitting 7 of their first 8 shots of the game jumping out to the first half lead. Washburn finished the half 15 of 30 from the field while holding the Mavericks (7-14) to 8 of 28 from field including an 0-15 performance from 3-point range. Will McNeill scored 10 points in the half to pace the Ichabod attack as the Ichabods would lead by as many as 22 in the first half with 5:49 to go at 38-16 en route to a 44-25 halftime lead.
In the second half the Ichabods increased their lead to as many as 30 in the game at 63-33 with just over 10 minutes to play as Washburn only let the Mavericks get within 20 in the second half only once at 46-27 after 39 seconds of action in the half.
McNeil led the Ichabods with 18 points while pullding down a game-high six rebounds collecting five steals and three assists. He was joined in double figures by Zack Riggins who had 11 and Martin Mitchell who had 10 tying a career-high with five rebounds. Bobby Chipman tied a career-high with four assists.
Mitch Albers led the Mavericks with 15 points and John Karhoff added 14.
Washburn held the Mavericks to 2 of 24 shooting from 3-point range and 17 of 49 for the game for a 35 percent average. The Ichabods finished 29 of 64 at 45 percent. The Ichabods were 15 of 16 from the free throw line while UNO finished 20 of 26. Washburn also had a 38 to 33 advantage on the glass with 13 offensive rebounds turning into 16 second chance points. Washburn also forced 16 UNO turnovers leading to 27 points and dominated play in the paint outscoring the Mavericks 42 to 20.
The Ichabods topped the Mavericks 73-63 in Omaha earlier this season on Nov. 29 for their first win over a Division I since topping Oklahoma State 25 years to the day in Stillwater after topping the Cowboys 67-66.  

About Northwest Missouri
The Bearcats are off to a 14-3 start and currently sit in a three-way tie for first in the MIAA with Central Missouri and Missouri Southern after topping Emporia State 71-45 in Emporia State on Sunday. The Bearcats were ranked as high as No. 24 in the NABC poll but ell out after falling to Missouri Southern. They received votes in the Jan. 17 poll. DeShaun Cooper leads the team in scoring as the only Bearcat in double figures averaging 13.2 ppg. Jake Reinder is scoring 10.4 ppg while leading the team in rebounds at 5.7 per game. The Bearcats are averaging 69.1 ppg while allowing 58.5 per contest.

Series history with Northwest MIssouri
Wednesday's meeting will be the 92nd between the two schools and Washburn holds a 57-34 lead in the series. Washburn has won seven of the last ten including the last three of the last four in the series. The series dates back to the 1940-41 season and they have played each other every year since WU joined the MIAA in 1989-90. The Ichabods are 21-7 against the Bearcats in Lee Arena and have won the last five at home. Since the 1956-57 season, Washburn is 20-19 in Maryville and since joining the MIAA during the 1990-91 season, the Ichabods are 11-9 on the road.
 
Last meeting with NWMSU • NWMSU 65, WU 59 • 12/3/11
MARYVILLE, Mo. -- The Washburn Ichabods dropped their MIAA falling to Northwest Missouri 65-59 in Bearcat Arena.
A Will McNeill free throw with 1:44 remaining put Washburn up 58-57 but on the Bearcats' next possession Bryston Williams recorded a traditional 3-point play to put the Ichabods back in front 60-58 with 1:06 to play in the game.
Washburn came up empty on its next possession and Kyle Haake hit a fade away 18 footer putting the Bearcats up 62-58 with 39 seconds left. The Ichabods again came up empty and were forced to foul. The Bearcats (7-0, 2-0 MIAA) hit one free throw to take a five-point lead at 63-58 with 18 seconds left.
Martin Mitchell was fouled with 12.9 seconds left sending him to line where he hit one trimming the Bearcat lead to four at 63-59. Washburn was forced to foul where the Bearcats hit both their final throws in the final eight seconds to seal the win.
The Ichabods led 37-29 at the break surviving a scoring outbreak by the Bearcat's DeAngelo Hailey who scored 17 straight points going for 18 in the first half. The Ichabods countered with 14 points in the opening half from Martin Mitchell after hitting 5 of 7 shots from the field and 2 of 3 from 3-point range. Washburn held the Bearcats to 8 of 22 from the field as Northwest went without a field for the first 9:18 of the first half. The Ichabods outrebounded the Bearcats 19 to 11 in the first half.
Mitchell led the Ichabods with 17 points while McNeill scored 16 in the loss to lead the Ichabods. Alex North finished with eight rebounds.
Washburn was 12 of 12 from the free throw line in the first half and then struggled at the other end of the court going 8 of 17 in the second half. The Ichabods were also 0 of 5 from the 3-point line in the second half after hitting three in the first half.

Last time out for NWMSU • NWMSU 71, ESU 45 • 1/22/12
(Jan. 22, 2012) – (NWMSU Media Relations) -- EMPORIA, Kan. – For the fourth time this season, the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats held its opponent under the 50 point mark for a decisive 71-45 win over Emporia State on Sunday inside White Auditorium.
Northwest improved to 14-3 on the year and 8-3 to remain in a tie atop the MIAA standings. The Hornets fall to 8-9 overall and 4-7 in league action as the Bearcats held Emporia State to its lowest point total of the year.
The Bearcats jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as they led by as many as 28.
Both teams traded three-pointers as Alex Sullivan nailed his only points of the night putting Northwest up 22-12 with 3:56 left in the half. From there, the Bearcats lead would not dip below double digits.
The Bearcats' inside presence dominated the Hornets as they outscored ESU 26-16 in the paint. Northwest big man Dillon Starzl finished with a game high 15 points and six rebounds.
To start the game Northwest forced a shot clock violation for the home team and set the tone. Emporia State shot under 20 percent in the first half and only 26 percent for the game.
Senior Kyle Haake tallied 10 points as 13 different Bearcats scored in the game.

Bod tweets . . . 140-character or less notes on the ichabods
• In Washburn's wins the Ichabods are -79 in turnovers, the losses they are +6 compared to their opponents #GoodHandsTeam
• The Ichabods are 16 of 84 (.190) from 3-point range in their four losses #Ouch
• Washburn is shooting 71 of 179 (.397) from 3-point range in the wins #MuchBetter
• Opponents are 37 of 109 (.339) from 3-point range in Washburn's losses #DefendTheLongBall
• Will McNeill (20.0 ppg) and Martin Mitchell (10.0 ppg) are the only Ichabod averaging double figures in the WU losses #NeedScoringHelp
• Washburn is 13-0 when outscoring its opponent #UselessFact
• Washburn is second in the MIAA in scoring defense at 62.6 ppg #TenaciousD
• Washburn leads the MIAA in defensive field goal percentage at .387 #PressureD
• The Ichabods are second (9.6) in the MIAA in steals per game #GoodHands
• Washburn is leading the MIAA in turnover margin (+4.1) #TakingCareOfTheBall
• The Ichabods are third in the MIAA in rebounding defense at 31.1 rpg #Boards
• Washburn is third in the MIAA in offensive rebounds at 12.9 rpg #SecondChances
• Will McNeill is third in the MIAA in scoring and 12th in rebounding (18.9 ppg/5.7 rpg) #HeIsAGuardPeople
• Alex North is 16th in the MIAA in rebounding at 5.3 per game #GlassMan
• Bobby Chipman is 17th in the MIAA in rebounding at 5.0 rpg #Boards
• Martin Mitchell is 15th in the MIAA in scoring at 12.1 ppg #ScoringWithWill
• Will McNeill is 3rd in the MIAA in FG % at .484 (125 of 258) #SelectiveShooting
• North is 7th in the MIAA in FT percentage .804 #Pure
• Will McNeill leads the MIAA in steals at 2.8 per game #QuickHands
• Martin Mitchell is sixth in the MIAA in assists with 3.4 per game #DishingTheBall
• The Ichabods have forced 86 turnovers in the last five games while committing only 57 #ballcontrol
• Will McNeill averaging 15.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.4 spg, 2.8 apg and 1.6 turnovers per game in the last five games #player

Ichabod Player Notes
#4  • Jared Henry  • G • 6-1 • 170 • So. • Seven field goal attempts against UNO tied career high (3 makes)
#5  • Jeff Reid  • G • 6-6 • 190 • So. • 14 of 16 from the free throw line this season (.875)
#10  • Will McNeill  • G • 6-1 • 190 • Jr. • 141 career steals 3rd on all-time chart (156-Canfield, 149-Summler)
#11  • Kyle Wiggins  • G • 6-2 • 165 • Fr. • 12 of 21 from field in last four games (8.3 ppg)
#12  • Martin Mitchell  • G • 6-0 • 185 • Jr. • Five rebounds vs UNO tied a career high
#14  • Christian Ulsaker  • F • 6-5 • 190 • Fr. • Averaging 5.0 ppg in last 5 (9 of 19 from field - .474)
#15  • Mitch Allen  • G • 5-9 • 165 • Jr. • Has hit 30 career 3-pointers (30 of 86 attempts)
#20  • Bobby Chipman  • F • 6-8 • 210 • Jr. • Averaging 5.4 ppg in last five - 7 of 8 from FT line, 3.4 rbg)
#21  • Joseph Smith  • F • 6-9 • 235 • Jr. • 7 of 12 from the field in the last two games (7.5 ppg)
#22  • Alex North  • F • 6-6 • 210 • So. • 7 of 12 from the field averaging 6.6 ppg in the last three
#24  • Zack Riggins  • F • 6-6 • 230 • RS-Jr. • Career high 11 points vs UNO last time out (5 of 7 from field)

Ichabod Basketball HIstory
Washburn is 1,417-979 (.590 in 2,396 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 468-209 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 359-65 (.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
After hosting Northwest Missouri on Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Arena, the Ichabods will hit the road for trips at Missouri Western and Truman.