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Starting introductions
The Washburn Ichabods will host Central Missouri in a battle at the top of the MIAA standings on Wednesday in Lee Arena beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Ichabods (16-6, 10-4 MIAA) defeated Fort Hays State last time out 79-67. Washburn topped Central Missouri (16-4, 12-3 MIAA) in the first meeting this season in Warrensburg 75-67 on New Year's Eve. Since that game the Mules have ripped off nine straight wins including a 78-58 win over Lincoln last time out. The Mules currently sit in first place in the conference race with Northwest Missouri (11-3 MIAA) and Washburn (10-4 MIAA) in second and third respectively. After facing the Mules, the Ichabods will wrap up a three-game home stretch facing Southwest Baptist (8-7 MIAA) at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11 before taking on Missouri Southern (10-5 MIAA) on Feb. 15 in Joplin.

Game Quick Facts . . .
Game No. 23 - Washburn (16-6, 10-4 MIAA) vs Central Missouri (16-4, 12-3 MIAA)
Game Notes: Washburn | Central Missouri
Date: Feb. 8, 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 wusports.com
Media Stats: Through wusports.com
Washburn Head Coach: Bob Chipman (Kansas State, 1973) - 712-294, 33rd season
Central Missouri Head Coach: Kim Anderson (Missouri, 1979)  - 218-78, 10th season
Series History / Streak: UCM leads 47-44 / WU - 1
Last Meeting: WU won 75-67 on Dec. 31, 2011 in Warrensburg

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 712-294 (.707) overall and he has 470 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 359-66 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 26-22 against the Mules.
Central Missouri head Kim Anderson is in his 10th year as head coach at Central Missouri. Anderson (Missouri, '79) has guided the Mules to a 218-78 (.730) record.

Last time out for the Ichabods • WU 79, FHSU 67 • 2/4/12
TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods used an 11-0 run over the first 3:31 of the second half  to open a 17-point lead and they would never look back in a 79-67 win over Fort Hays State. The win gives the Ichabods their first regular season series sweep over the Tigers since ever as MIAA foes.
The Tigers led only once in the game as 12-11 with 13:37 remaining in the opening stanza on a layup by Matt Simmons and the lead lasted until Jeff Reid connected on a 3-pointer at the 11:05 mark putting Washburn (16-6, 10-4 MIAA) up for good as the Tigers (14-6, 8-6 MIAA) would not get closer than two the rest of the half. Washburn would stretch the lead to as many as 15 in the frame on another Reid 3-pointer en route to a season-high 12 points.
Both teams used hot shooting in the first half as the Ichabods were 57 percent from the field in the first half while the Tigers were 54 percent from the floor as Washburn took a six-point, 41-35 lead into the break at halftime. Washburn jumped out to a 6-0 lead holding the Tigers without a score until the 16:51 mark of the game.
Washburn used the big run to open the second half pushing itself out to a 17-point lead at 52-35 after a lay up by Zack Riggins. Washburn pushed the lead to 18 in the second half after an ally-oop dunk from Reid to Joseph Smith with 11:49 remaining puttng the Ichabods up 58-40. Fort Hays State cut the lead to 11 three different times in the second half but Washburn kept the Tigers in a double-digit deficit the rest of the way.
Will McNeill led the Ichabods with 26 points on 9 of 13 shooting from the field while adding a team-high eight rebounds. He scored 17 in the first half going 6 of 6 from the floor. Reid scored 12 points on 5 of 7 shooting from the field. Bobby Chipman had eight points with a career-high four blocks and six rebounds and Jared Henry added eight points as well. Martin Mitchell had a career-high six assists.
The Ichabods finished the game 32 of 60 from the field hitting 53 percent of their shots and they limited the Tigers to 8 of 29 shooting in the second half leading to a 22 of 55 performance from the field for a 40 percent clip. The Ichabods were 6 of 14 from the 3-point line while the Tigers were 9 of 22. The Tigers held a 14 of 20 advantage from the free throw line while the Ichabods were 9 of 11.
Washburn held a 37 to 28 advantage on the glass collecting 11 offensive rebounds leading to 17 second chance points. The Ichabods held the Tigers to only one second chance point in the game. The Ichabods also outscored the Tigers 44 to 24 in the paint.    

About Central Missouri
The Mules are 16-4 and 12-3 in the MIAA after topping Lincoln 78-58 on Feb. 4 while winning their ninth-straight game. Washburn was the last team to beat the Mules back on Dec. 31. Central Missouri has three players averaging in double figures with Boo Hunter averaging 12.6 ppg while Dominique Long is scoring 12.3 and Widgett Washington scoring 12.2 ppg. Junior forward Matt Webb is averaging 9.6 ppg along with Yavario Smith. The Mules are 11-2 at home and 5-2 on the road. The Mules' three losses are to Washburn, Missouri Southern (72-64 on Dec. 3) and at Emporia State (74-72 in overtime on Dec. 10) in back-to-back games. The Mules are averaging 78.0 ppg while allowing 64.7 ppg. leading the MIAA in scoring margin at 13.3 per game. The Mules have shot 176 more free throws than their opponents this season making 130 more.
 
Series history with Central Missouri
Wednesday's game will be the 92nd between these two teams and UCM leads the all-time series 47-44. The Ichabods are 5-1 against Central Missouri in the MIAA Tournament. Washburn is 17-7 against UCM in Lee Arena and 20-20 in all-time MIAA games. In road MIAA games played in Warrensburg, the Ichabods are 8-13 after snapping an eight-game losing streak in the win on New Year's Eve earlier this season.  
 
Last meeting with Central Missouri • WU 75, UCM 67 • 12/31/11
WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The Washburn Ichabods snapped an eight-game losing streak at Central Missouri picking up a 75-67 win over the Mules wrapping up the 2011 calendar year.
The Ichabods led by 15 at 54-39 with 13:40 to play in the game before the Mules trimmed the lead to four at 58-54 with 6:04 to go. Washburn would go on a mini 5-0 run on a 3-pointer by Bobby Chipman and a turnover by the Mules with a dunk by Will McNeill put Washburn up nine at 63-54 with 5:23 to go.
The Mules (8-4, 3-3 MIAA) cut the lead back to five with just over four minutes to play after a jumper by Matt Webb, but the ichabods responded with a 3-pointer by Martin Mitchell with 3:47 to play putting the Ichabods up 66-58. However the Mules answered with a 3-pointer by their own by Boo Hunter with 3:17 cutting Washburn's lead to five at 66-61. A free throw by the Mules' Lance Beckwith with 2:37 to go cut the Ichabod lead to four at 66-62.
After forcing a turnover, the Ichabods McNeill was fouled going to the hole with 1:06 remaining, but came up empty.
The Mules' Widgett Washington was fouled on a drive with 42 seconds left and hit both free throws cutting the Ichabod lead to 66-64. Following a UCM timeout, Washington fouled Jeff Reid with 36 seconds left in the game sending him to the free throw line. Reid hit them both stretching Washburn's lead back to four at 68-64.
The Mules came up empty on their next trip down the court and Chipman came down with the rebound. The Mules fouled and McNeill went back to the line with 20 seconds left and hit them both giving Washburn a six-point lead at 70-64.
Hunter connected on a 3-pointer with 13.7 seconds left pulling the Mules within 70-67 as the Mules called their final timeout of the game.
The Ichabods broke the press and Alex North was fouled with 10 seconds left and hit both of his free throws putting Washburn up 72-67 and the Mules threw the ball away on their final possesion turning it back to the the Ichabods. Mitchell was fouled, hit the first free throw, missed his second but got the rebound and hit a jumper wrapping up the 75-67 win.
The Ichabods led 36-32 at the half after shooting 48 percent from the field hitting 15 of 31. Washburn struggled from outside going 3 of 11 from 3-point range. The Mules were 11 of 26 including 5 of 10 from downtown. Joseph Smith led the Ichabods in the first half hitting all five field goal attempts scoring 11 points in the first 20 minutes topping his previous career high of eight. Jeff Reid also reached double figures in the first half scoring a season-high 10 points. Washburn led by as many as six in the first half at 36-30 with 1:14 to go in the stanza.
The win was the first for the Ichabods in Warrensburg since a 75-68 win over the Mules on Feb. 15, 2003.
McNeill led the Ichabods with 22 points leading four Ichabods in double figures. He also added five steals as well. Mitchell had 15 points with five assists and five rebounds to lead the team. Reid finished with 12 points and Smith finished with 11 points all coming in the first half.
The Ichabods shot 51 percent from the field hitting 28 of 55 shots of the field. Washburn was 10 of 13 from the field.
Hunter finished with 18 points and Lance Beckwith and Dominique Long each had 12.
The Mules finished 22 of 50 from the field while going 15 of 18 from the free throw line.
The Mules outrebounded the Ichabods 33 to 24. Washburn forced 20 Central Missouri turnovers leading to 21 points off turnovers.
Washburn's bench outscored the Mules' bench 23 to 8.    

Last time out for UCM • UCM 78, LU 58 • 2/4/12
(Feb. 4, 2012) – (UCM Media Relations) -- The Mules used runs at the end of the first half and beginning of the second to pull away from Lincoln in a 78-58 win on Saturday afternoon in Jefferson City, Missouri. The win was the ninth straight for the Mules as they stay in first place in the MIAA.
Central Missouri (16-4, 12-3 MIAA) jumped out to an early 10-point advantage at 13-3 just over six minutes into the game. The Blue Tigers (3-17, 3-11 MIAA) quickly cut the lead to five at 13-8, but a jumper by Dominique Long spurred a 7-1 run to give UCM a 20-9 lead with 10:57 left in the half.
Lincoln cut the lead to eight on a three by Gregory Motley, but back-to-back buckets from Yavario Smith and Widgett Washington gave UCM a 24-12 lead. After Motley made one of two free throws Long drilled a three to give the Mules their biggest lead of the half at 27-13 with 7:06 to play.
An 8-2 run by the Blue Tigers cut the lead to 29-21 with just under five minutes to play in the period. Lincoln inched closer, cutting the lead to six at 34-28, but six straight points from Lance Beckwith put UCM back in front by 12. A Dusty Allen free throw put the Mules up 13, but the Blue Tigers drilled a three right before the half to pull within 41-31 at the break.
The Mules opened the second half on a 10-0 run to open a 51-31 lead, but the Blue Tigers came right back with a 9-2 run of their own to get back within 53-40 at the 14:03 mark. The Mules got the lead back to 15, but an 8-2 run by Lincoln cut the lead to single digits at 61-52.
Boo Hunter drilled a three on the next possession as the Mules went on a 17-4 run to push the lead to 78-56 with just over a minute and a half to play.
UCM finished the game 27-of-64 from the field for 42 percent and 5-of-16 from three point range for 31 percent. The Mules were 19-of-24 from the foul line for 79 percent.
Hunter led four Mules in double figures with 18 points. Long recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Beckwith finished the game with 13 points, while Matt Webb had 11. Beckwith also chipped in seven boards and seven assists.
Cedric Ridle led the Lincoln Blue Tigers with 16 points. Matt Morris had 13 and Gregory Motley 11 as LU shot 39 percent from the floor, 23-of-58. Lincoln was 8-of-24 from beyond the arc for 33 percent and 4-of-10 from the charity stripe.
The Mules forced 16 Blue Tiger turnovers and committed just nine of their own. UCM also out-rebounded Lincoln 42-34 and had 18 offensive boards.

Bod tweets . . . 140-character or less notes on the ichabods
• In Washburn's wins the Ichabods are -84 in turnovers, the losses they are -2 compared to their opponents #GoodHandsTeam
• The Ichabods are 21 of 100 (.210) from 3-point range in their four losses #Ouch
• Washburn is shooting 90 of 238 (.378) from 3-point range in the wins #MuchBetter
• Opponents are 44 of 125 (.352) from 3-point range in Washburn's losses #DefendTheLongBall
• Will McNeill (20.7 ppg) is the only Ichabod averaging double figures in the WU losses #NeedScoringHelp
• Washburn is second in the MIAA in scoring defense at 61.6 ppg #TenaciousD
• Washburn leads the MIAA in defensive field goal percentage at .390 #PressureD
• The Ichabods are second (9.1) in the MIAA in steals per game #GoodHands
• Washburn is leading the MIAA in turnover margin (+3.9) #TakingCareOfTheBall
• The Ichabods are third in the MIAA in rebounding defense at 31.7 rpg #Boards
• Washburn is second in the MIAA in offensive rebounds at 13.0 rpg #SecondChances
• Will McNeill is second in the MIAA in scoring and 13th in rebounding (19.5 ppg/5.4 rpg) #HeIsAGuardPeople
• Alex North is 18th in the MIAA in rebounding at 4.9 per game #GlassMan
• Bobby Chipman is 10th in the MIAA in rebounding at 5.7 rpg #Boards
• Will McNeill is third in the MIAA in FG % at .487 (152 of 312) #SelectiveShooting
• Alex North is eighth in the MIAA in FT percentage .803 (49 of 61) #Pure
• Will McNeill leads the MIAA in steals at 2.8 per game #QuickHands
• Martin Mitchell is seventh in the MIAA in assists with 3.3 per game #DishingTheBall
• Will McNeill needs 77 points to reach 1,000 for his career #WhenNotIf
• Will McNeill needs four steals to break the junior class record set by Rob Reilly's mark of 61 set during the 1985-86 season #recordbreaker
• Will McNeill's 102 free throw attempts this season is eighth on the junior class record chart #gettingtotheline

Three . . . Dot . . . Thoughts . . .
Will McNeill is the only MIAA player to have attempted at least 100 free throws and have 100 makes … Martin Mitchell and Central Missouri's Boo Hunter both played at Southwest Tennessee Community College … between the men's and women's game there will be three of the four coaches offspring of the Ichabods/Lady Blues/Mules/Jennies in uniform in Bobby Chipman, Sami McHenry from Washburn and D.J. Slifer for the Mules who is the son of Jennies head coach Dave Slifer … Washburn has not swept the regular season series with the Mules since the 2002-03 season … Will McNeil is looking to become the first Ichabod to go over the 1,000-point mark since Travis Robbins completed the task during the 2004-05 season toward the end of his two-year Ichabod career finishing with 1,050 … the last Ichabod to reach 1,000 points in their third year was Ryan Murphy during his junior season of 2001-02 en route to 1,654 career points … Bobby Chipman's four blocks against Fort Hays State was the most since Paul Byers had five against Ottawa on Nov. 22, 2005.

Ichabod Player Notes
#4  • Jared Henry  • G • 6-1 • 170 • So. • Season-high two 3-pointers last time out against FHSU scoring 8 pts
#5  • Jeff Reid  • G • 6-6 • 190 • So. • Tied season-high 12 points vs FHSU going 5 of 7 from the floor
#10  • Will McNeill  • G • 6-1 • 190 • Jr. • Recorded 45th double-digit career scoring games vs FHSU last game
#11  • Kyle Wiggins  • G • 6-2 • 165 • Fr. • 6 of 11 from the field in last three games (5.6 ppg)
#12  • Martin Mitchell  • G • 6-0 • 185 • Jr. • Career-high six assists against FHSU last time out
#14  • Christian Ulsaker  • F • 6-5 • 190 • Fr. • Hit only field goal attempt in last game vs FHSU
#15  • Mitch Allen  • G • 5-9 • 165 • Jr. • Has hit 30 career 3-pointers (30 of 88 attempts)
#20  • Bobby Chipman  • F • 6-8 • 210 • Jr. • Averaging 10.0 points and 7.8 rebounds in last five games
#21  • Joseph Smith  • F • 6-9 • 235 • Jr. • Five of 11 from field in last two games - 5.0 ppg, 3.0 rbg
#22  • Alex North  • F • 6-6 • 210 • So. • Has gone 49 of 61 from the free throw line this season
#24  • Zack Riggins  • F • 6-6 • 230 • RS-Jr. • Eight of 17 from field in last two games (10.0 ppg/4.0 rpg).

Ichabod Basketball HIstory
Washburn is 1,420-980 (.590 in 2,400 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 471-210 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 360-66 (.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 take Southwest Baptist on Feb. 11 wrapping up the current three-game home stand.