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Starting introductions
The Washburn Ichabods will be making their 12th NCAA appearance and their second straight as they will travel to Wichita Falls, Texas for the South Central Regional Tournament where they will take on the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats. The Ichabods are coming off a perfect weekend winning the MIAA postseason tournament, their fifth in school history improving to 24-7 on the season. The Bearcats, who shared the regular season conference title with the Ichabods and Central Missouri, lost in the semifinals to Pittsburg State 56-53. The Bearcats swept the two regular season meetings winning both games by a combined 14 points winning by seven in each game. The Ichabods led by six at one point in a 70-63 loss in Topeka and led by 13 with 12 minutes to play in a 65-59  loss in Maryville. The Ichabods are 1-1 in a pair of NCAA Tournament meetings not meeting since a regional semfinal loss to the Bearcats on March 14, 2004 in a 62-61 loss in a game played in Stephenville, Texas. The Ichabods won a regional final contest over the Bearcats on March 10, 2001 in a 67-61 win.

Game Quick Facts . . .
Game No. 32 - Washburn (24-7) vs Northwest Missouri (22-6)
Game Notes: Washburn | Northwest Missouri
Date: March 10, 2012
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Location: Wichita Falls, Texas
Arena: D.L. Ligon Coliseum
Radio: AM 580 WIBW
Online Audio: Through wusports.com (free)
Online Video: Through America One
Tournament website: Through msumustangs.com
Washburn Head Coach: Bob Chipman (Kansas State, 1973) - 720-295, 33rd season
Northwest Missouri Head Coach: Ben McCollum (Northwest Missouri, 2003) 44-37, 3rd season
Series History / Streak: WU leads 57-35 / NWMSU has won the last two
Last Meeting: NWMSU won 70-63 on Jan. 25, 2012

Ichabods on radio
Washburn basketball games can be heard live on AM 580 WIBW. 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.

The coaches
Washburn Ichabod head basketball coach Bob Chipman is in his 33rd season at the helm of the Ichabod basketball program. Chipman is 720-295 (.707) overall and he has 479 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 32 wins going 32-15 with a .667 winning percentage during tournament play winning five postseason tournaments. In home games, Chipman has amassed a home record of 417-77 (.840) record going 364-66 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 12 conference regular season titles (10 MIAA), 12 NCAA Tournament appearances and the 1987 NAIA National Championship. Chipman is 34-19 against the Bearcats.
Bearcats head coach Ben McCollum is 44-37 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 3-3 against the Ichabods.

Last time out for the Ichabods • WU 67, Pittsburg State 63 • 3/4/12
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Washburn Ichabods won their fifth MIAA Tournament with a 67-63 win over Pittsburg State Sunday in Muncipal Auditorium.
The Ichabods (24-7) started off slowly as the Gorillas jumped out to a 14-6 lead with 13:19 to play in the first half. Washburn took its first lead at 21-20 with 4:37 to play in the half on a jumper by Jared Henry. After the Gorillas tied the score at 21, Washburn regained the lead and then stretched it to six at 28-22 with 1:27 to play in the half. Pitt State hit a three with just over a minute to play to the the lead at 28-25 and neither team would score the rest of the half.
The second half saw the Ichabods pull out to a 10-point lead at 40-30 on a lay up by Martin Mitchell with 15 minutes remaining, but the Gorillas cut the lead back to three less than four minutes later. Again Washburn pulled away going back up by eight at 47-39 on a jumper by Henry.
After the teams went more than three minutes without a score, the Gorillas regained the lead at 53-52 with 4:33 to play on a 3-pointer by Rico Pierrevilus. Washburn took the lead back on a pair of free throws by Will McNeill at 54-53.
The teams were tied again at 57 with 2:45 left but McNeill hit a pair of free throws and Bobby Chipman hit two more to put the Ichabods up 61-57 with 1:31 to play. PSU trimmed the lead back to two after two free throws, but McNeill hit another pair of free throws to go back up four at 65-61 with 15 seconds left. Pitt State missed a three-pointer and Chipman hit a free throw to go up again by five. PSU hit a jumper with three seconds left to trim the lead back to three at 66-63. McNeill hit a free throw with a second left to push the final margin back to four at 67-63.
McNeill led the Ichabods with 16 points earning tournament MVP honors. Kyle Wiggins finished with 12, Zack Riggins had 11 and Chipman finished with 10.

Final notes for the Pittsburg State Game
* Washburn improved to 12-7 in MIAA Tournament games in Kansas City.
* Washburn won its first MIAA Tournament title in Kansas City.
* The Ichabods are now 1-3 in MIAA Tournament finals in Kansas City. (Lost to Missouri Western in 2003, Northwest Missouri in 2004 and Nebraska Omaha in 2010.)
* Overall Washburn is 5-5 in MIAA Tournament finals.
* The Ichabods previously won the MIAA Tournament during the 1992, 1994, 1997 and 2001 seasons.
* Will McNeill tied the school record for steals in a single season tying Bobby Sumler's single-season record of 73 set during the 1986-87 season.
* Washburn is now 32-15 in the MIAA Tournament with head coach Bob Chipman recording all the wins - the most by any coach in tournament history. He also won his fifth MIAA Tournament title, the most by any coach.

About Northwest Missouri
The Bearcats are 22-6 and shared the MIAA regular season title with the Ichabods and Central Missouri. The Bearcats are ranked No. 21 in the current NABC poll. The Bearcats have droped three of their last five games. DeShaun Cooper leads the team in scoring averaging 14.6 ppg. Jake Reinder is scoring 11.9 ppg while leading the team in rebounds at 6.8 per game. DeAngelo Hailey is scoring 10.2 ppg. The Bearcats are averaging 70.4 ppg while allowing 62.4 per contest.
 
Series history with Northwest Missouri
Saturday's meeting will be the 93rd between the two schools and Washburn holds a 57-35 lead in the series. Washburn has won seven of the last 11 including the last three of the last five in the series. The Bearcats swept the regular season series during the 2011-12 season. 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 21-8 against the Bearcats in Lee Arena and have won five of the last six 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. In the MIAA Tournament, the Ichabods are 3-4 against Northwest last meeting in the 2008 semifinals with the Bearcats winning 50-49. In the NCAA Tournament, the Ichabods are 1-1 against the Bearcats not playing since a second round game against Northwest on March 14, 2004 when the Bearcats won 62-61. The Ichabods won a regional final contest against the Bearcats in Topeka on March 10, 2011 advancing to the Elite Eight in Bakersfield, Calif., after a 67-61 win.
 
Last meeting with Northwest Missouri • NWMSU • 1/25/12
TOPEKA, Kan. --  The Washburn Ichabods fell for the first time this season in Lee Arena dropping to 7-1 on the year dropping a 70-63 decision to Northwest Missouri. The loss drops the Ichabods to 13-6 overall and 7-4 in the MIAA.
Washburn jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the first three minutes of the game, but the Bearcats responded with a 14-0 run of their own over the next 5:08 to take a 15-7 lead with 11:48 to play in the first half. The run was halted by Will McNeill who connecteed on a lay up pulling Washburn within six. The Bearcats (15-3, 9-3 MIAA) would continue to hold the lead the remainder of the half until Washburn took the led at 32-31 on a jumper by Zack Riggins, but the Bearcats DeShaun Cooper scored on a drive before the half staking Northwest to a 33-32 advantage entering the break.
The Ichabods kept Northwest within 10 points until a pair of free throws by Alex Sullivan gave the Bearcats a double-digit lead with 10:01 to play but the Ichabods came back with a run of their own on back-to-back 3-pointers by Bobby Chipman and Jeff Reid on consecutive possessions cut the lead back to four with 8:29 to play in the game. Sullivan pushed the lead back to three for Northwest after a three of his own, then Chipman put in a Washburn miss to trim the lead back to five at 57-52 with 7:51 remaining.
Washburn kept the pressure on cutting the Northwest lead to one at 57-56 with 6:30 to play after a pair of Reid charity tosses the Ichabods forced a turnover but came up empty on a 3-point attempt. The Bearcats would hit three of their next four free throws to build the lead back to four with 4:07 remaining and a lay up by McNeill cut the margin back to two. Washburn cut the lead back to one with 1:07 to go in the game after a free throw by Chipman, but the Bearcats would hit all six of their free throws in the final 34 seconds to hang on for the seven-point win.
Washburn was led by McNeill who had 24 points and Chipman recorded his first Washburn double double with 11 points and 10 rebounds with seven coming on the offensive end. The Bearcats had five reach double figures led by Reinders' 16 with 14 coming in the first half. Kyle Haake had 14 to go with 10 rebounds while DeAngelo Hailey had 14 as well. Sullivan had 12 and DeShaun Cooper added 11.
Washburn was outrebounded 31 to 26 while the Bearcats shot 53 percent against the Ichabods hitting 20 of 38 shots. Washburn finished at 38 percent hitting 21 off 55 attempts. The Bearcats finished 23 of 29 from the free throw line while the ichabods were 16 of 21. The Ichabods did force 16 Northwest turnovers leading to 22 points for Washburn.       

Last time out for Northwst Missouri • PSU 56, NWMSU 53 • 3/3/12
(March 3, 2012) – (NWMSU Media Relations) -- KANSAS CITY, MO. – The three-pointers failed to fall and because of it, Northwest Missouri State men's basketball team fell to Pittsburg State 56-53 in the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament Saturday evening at Municipal Auditorium.
The good news is Northwest most likely did enough during the regular season to earn a spot in next week's South Central Regional. The Bearcats are 22-6.
The biggest lead Northwest held in the second half was 31-25 and that was in the opening minutes of the second half when Kyle Haake knocked down a three-pointer.
From that point on, treys became nonexistent for the Bearcats.
Pittsburg State used on hounding defense to stay close. The Gorillas finally tied the game at 41-41 with 8:37 left on a basket by Rico PierreVilus.
The Gorillas, though, couldn't get that one basket to put them ahead. That changed with 5:53 left when Marky Nolen scored, giving Pittsburg State its first lead of the game at 45-43.
Northwest briefly regained the lead at 47-45 on two free throws by Jake Reinders.
Pittsburg State scored the next seven points for a 52-47 lead with 3:42 left. It was too much for the Bearcats to overcome even though they had their chances with 30 seconds left.
Several times Northwest put up a game-tying three-pointer in the remaining time. But unlike Friday night, the shot didn't fall.
The Bearcats made just four of 19 three-point attempts and that pretty much did them in.
The game started so well for the Bearcats.
Northwest scored the first seven points and bolted to a 15-4 lead. The ease in which the Bearcats were scoring made it look like they were on the way to an easy victory.
The fact that Northwest went into halftime with a slim 26-24 lead tells you just how much Pittsburg State disrupted the Bearcats offensive flow the last 12 minutes of the first half.
The Gorillas took advantage of the long scoring drought by Northwest and tied the game at 16-16 with 5:37 left.
Northwest responded on a basket by Justin Clark. However, the remainder of the first half remained tight.
Defense ruled the first 20 minutes. Each team shot 39 percent from the field.

The Ichabods in the NCAA Tournament
• The Ichabods are 13-11 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
• Washburn advanced to the 2001 NCAA Championship game falling 72-63 to Kentucky Wesleyan - a title which was later vacated by the NCAA.
• Washburn is 7-7 in neutral site NCAA tournament games.
• The Ichabods are 1-1 in NCAA tournament away games.
• Washburn is 5-3 in NCAA tournament home games.
• The Ichabods are 7-4 in NCAA tournament first round games.
• Washburn is 3-4 in second round NCAA tournament games.
• The Ichabods are 2-3 in NCAA regional tournament games played in Texas going 2-2 in Stephenville (Tarleton State) and 0-1 in Commerce (A&M-Commerce).
• Against other foes in NCAA play at this year's regional tournament: the Ichabods are 0-2 against Missouri Southern; 1-1 against Northwest Missouri and 2-0 against West Texas A&M. The Ichabods have never faced St. Mary's, Midwestern State, Tarleton State or Arkansas Tech in the NCAA postseason.

Bod tweets . . . 140-character or less notes on the ichabods
• Washburn is tied for the lead in the MIAA in scoring defense at 62.4 ppg  with Northwest Missouri #TenaciousD
• Washburn leads the MIAA in defensive field goal percentage at .397 #PressureD
• Washburn leads the MIAA in scoring margin +10.5 ppg #BigOBigD
• Washburn is first in the MIAA in free throw percentage at .741 (483-652) #AntiShaq
• The Ichabods are second (8.8) in the MIAA in steals per game #GoodHands
• Washburn is leading the MIAA in turnover margin (+4.3) #TakingCareOfTheRock
• Washburn is second in the MIAA in offensive rebounds at 12.7 rpg #SecondChances
• Washburn is third in the league in rebounding margin at +5.0 #boards
• Will McNeill is second in the MIAA in scoring and 14th in rebounding (20.1 ppg/5.4 rpg) #HeIsAGuardPeople
• Alex North is 20th in the MIAA in rebounding at 4.8 per game #GlassMan
• Bobby Chipman is 11th in the MIAA in rebounding at 5.8 rpg #Boards
• Will McNeill is fourth in the MIAA in FG % at .485 (214 of 441) #SelectiveShooting
• Will McNeill is seventh in the MIAA in FT percentage .817 (174 of 213) #LineTime
• Will McNeill leads the MIAA in steals at 2.4 per game #QuickHands
• Bobby Chipman is eighth in the MIAA in blocked shots with 1.0 per #RejectionCity
• Martin Mitchell is seventh in the MIAA in assists with 3.7 per game #DishingTheBall
• In Washburn's wins the Ichabods are -133 in turnovers, the losses they are +1 compared to their opponents #GoodHandsTeam
• Washburn is 24-0 when outscoring its opponent #UselessNote
• The Ichabods are 31 of 125 (.248) from 3-point range in their seven losses #Ouch
• Washburn is shooting 129 of 361 (.357) from 3-point range in the wins #MuchBetter
• Opponents are 49 of 135 (.363) from 3-point range in Washburn's losses #DefendTheLongBall
• Opponents have attempted 72 more free throws (230) than the Ichabods (158) making 50 more (169 to 119) in Washburn losses #FTDisparity
• Will McNeill (19.6 ppg) is the only Ichabod averaging double figures in the WU losses #NeedScoringHelp
• Will McNeill's 174 free throw makes this season is third on the junior class record chart #GettingToTheLine
• Will McNeill's 213 free throw attempts this season is tied for fourth on the junior class record chart #GettingToTheLine
• Dan Buie (1996-97) owns both the junior class free throw makes (249) and attempts (371) #ReallyGettingToTheLine

Three . . . Dot . . . Thoughts . . .
Will McNeill leads the MIAA in free throw makes (174) and attempts (213) and no one has more than 118 makes (NWMSU's DeShaun Cooper) and two have 138 attempts  (NWMSU's DeShaun Cooper and PSU's Eric Ray)… Will McNeill currently sits at 1,118 points in his junior season, 12th on the all-time Washburn scoring chart … against during the MIAA Tournament, McNeill passed Todd Alexander (1990-1993) for the 12th spot on the chart … Washburn's win over Emporia State gave them its 20th of the season and the 25th in school history … it is head coach Bob Chipman's 23rd 20-win season in 33 seasons at Washburn … the Ichabods have lost five-straight overtime games … Washburn's last overtime win was on Dec. 4, 2007 in a 71-68 win over Central Oklahoma in Lee Arena … Will McNeill also needs only one steal to set the Washburn single-season record of 73 set by Bobby Sumler during the 1986-87 season as he enters the NWMSU game tied with 73 … Bobby Chipman's 57 career blocks is tied for ninth on the all-time chart …  Will McNeill's 624 points is fourth on the Washburn junior class chart … the junior class scoring record is 833 set by Gary Carrier during the 1983-84 season after averaging 25.2 points per game in 33 appearances … McNeill's 624 points this season is ninth on the all-time single season chart.

Ichabod Player Notes
#4  • Jared Henry  • G • 6-1 • 170 • So. • Averaged 7.0 and 2.0 rebounds in two games against NWMSU
#5  • Jeff Reid  • G • 6-6 • 190 • So. • 32 3-pointers is 8th on WU sophomore chart
#10  • Will McNeill  • G • 6-1 • 190 • Jr. • Needs one steal to set WU single season record of 73
#11  • Kyle Wiggins  • G • 6-2 • 165 • Fr. • Scored seven points in the second meeting vs NWMSU this season
#12  • Martin Mitchell  • G • 6-0 • 185 • Jr. • 116 assists this season fourth on WU junior class chart
#14  • Christian Ulsaker  • F • 6-5 • 190 • Fr. • Had six stitches to after getting elbowed in forehead vs Pitt State
#15  • Mitch Allen  • G • 5-9 • 165 • Jr. • Has hit 30 career 3-pointers (30 of 92 attempts)
#20  • Bobby Chipman  • F • 6-8 • 210 • Jr. • 30 blocked shots tied for 2nd on WU junior single season chart
#21  • Joseph Smith  • F • 6-9 • 235 • Jr. • Averaged 6.0 ppg and 2.0 rbg in two meetings vs Bearcats
#22  • Alex North  • F • 6-6 • 210 • So. • Career-high four steals against Pitt State in last game
#24  • Zack Riggins  • F • 6-6 • 230 • RS-Jr. • Averaged 5.0 ppg, 2.0 bkg and 1.0 spg in two games vs NWMSU

All-MIAA Honors
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Washburn's Will McNeill was a unanimous first team all-MIAA selection for the MIAA tri-champion Ichabods on the all-conference teams which were announced today by the MIAA. McNeill was also selected as a member of the MIAA's all-Defensive team. Also earning all-conference honors were Bobby Chipman and Martin Mitchell who were named honorable mention all-conference.
McNeill led the Ichabods with a 19.9 ppg scoring average while finishing second on the team with 5.5 rebounds per game. His 2.5 steals per game led the MIAA. He is tied for sixth in the MIAA in offensive rebounds at 2.3 and 13th in the league in rebounding at 5.5 per contest. McNeill is fourth in the league in field goal percentage at .480 hitting 191 of 398 shots while coming in seventh in free throw percentage at .817 after connecting on 156 of 191 attempts - both tops in the league for makes and attempts. This season McNeill snapped the Washburn record for steals in a career and needs five more to set the school single season record. McNeill was also named to the MIAA's all-Defensive team as a sophomore. McNeill is the 15th Ichabod to receive first team all-MIAA honors and is the second Ichabod to be named to the all-defensive team joining himself following the 2009-10 season as a sophomore.
Chipman has averaged 7.3 points per game this season to go with 5.8 rebounds per game, which is 11th in the MIAA this season. Chipman also ranks eighth in the MIAA in blocked shots at 0.9 per game swatting 26 attempts this season.
Mitchell is 28th in the MIAA in scoring this season at 10.3 points per game and is seventh in assists per game at 3.8 per contest. He is also tied for 12th in steals per game at 1.2 and fifth in assist to turnover ratio at 1.9. Mitchell is shooting 49 percent from the field hitting 109 of 222 attempts.

All-region Honors
WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Washburn junior guard Will McNeill has been named to the first team Daktronics South Central Regional squad which was announced today after a vote by the MIAA, Lone Star, Great America and Heartland conference sports information directors.
McNeill was a unanimous first team all-MIAA selection who led the Ichabods to the MIAA regular season and tournament championships. He leads the Ichabods with a 20.1 ppg scoring average, which is second in the MIAA and his 2.4 steals per game lead the league.

Ichabod Basketball HIstory
Washburn is 1,428-981 (.590 in 2,409 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 476-211 since joining the NCAA Division II ranks, which is the most since the 1989-90 season in the MIAA. The Ichabods have won ten MIAA championships and 21 overall in school history. The Ichabods won MIAA titles in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2012.

Home sweet home . . . the Ichabods in Lee Arena
The Ichabods are 364-66 (.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
It's win and keep playing as the winner of the Washburn/Northwest Missouri game will advance to face the winner of the  Midwestern State/St. Mary's game. For the non-winning team, the season will be over.