Opening Tip

• The Washburn Ichabods will wrap up the regular season home slate on Wednesday when they will host Fort Hays State at 7:30 p.m. on Schendel Court at Lee Arena.

• Washburn (15-8, 8-8 MIAA) will be looking to snap a three-game slide after falling at Northeastern State on Feb. 15.

• The Ichabods fell 87-85 in overtime in the first meeting with FHSU on Feb. 1 in Hays.

• The Tigers are 20-4 this season and 11-4 in the MIAA and have won their last two games.

• The Ichabods have clinched a spot in the MIAA postseason tournament. They enters the game with the Tigers in a two-way tie for seventh place in the MIAA standings. The top four teams receive an automatic bye to Kansas City and teams who finish fifth through eighth will host a play in game on March 4. The Ichabods are tied with Emporia State and they play each other on Saturday.

 Bod Notes

• Washburn will be trying to avoid its first four-game losing streak since the 2009-10 season when they lost five straight games from Dec. 28, 2009 to Jan. 10, 2010.

• In the Ichabod eight losses this season, their opponents have attempted 238 free throws compared to 197 for Washburn.

• In the losses, Washburn has made 136 free throws compared to 174 for their opponents and the Ichabods have been whistled for 34 more fouls.

• Washburn has been outrebounded in six of the eight games and tied in the rebounding total with Fort Hays State.

• The Ichabods have made more field goals in six of the eight losses than their opponents, but have been outscored from the free throw line in the last six losses.

• The Ichabods have been outscored 367 to 298 in the second half of the seven losses this season and have been outrebounded by an average of 5.0 per game. 

• In the loss to Nebraska-Kearney it marked the fourth time the Ichabods had allowed at least 50 points in the second half. (63 at MSSU; 55 vs NWMSU; 59 at UNK; 51 vs UNK)

• The Ichabods have hit at least one 3-pointer in 305 games entering the match up with FHSU. The last game the Ichabods did not hit a 3-pointer was Dec. 30, 2003 at Missouri Western.

• Alex North recorded his eighth double double of the season, his fifth-straight and the tenth of his career with 22 points and 13 rebounds against Emporia State. 

• Alex North hit 650 career points against Nebraska-Kearney. He has scored 680 points in 84 games averaging 8.1 a game including a 15.7 ppg average this season. He went over the 450-rebound total against Central Oklahoma and he is entering Wednesday's game with FHSU with 460 career boards.

• Jeff Reid went over the 700-point plateau against Northeastern State as he now has 708 in his third season at Washburn and has averaged 8.6 ppg in 82 career games. He is averaging 9.9 ppg this season.

• Kyle Wiggins went over the 700-point mark against the Lopers in the second meeting. He now has 722 for his Washburn career averaging 8.8 ppg in 82 games including 14.5 ppg this season.

• Ichabod junior Christian Ulsaker will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a broken bone in his shooting hand in practice. He was averaging career-bests of 13.0 ppg and 3.8 rpg. He will apply for a medical redshirt as he played in only four games.

 Ichabods on Radio

Washburn games will be broadcast on AM 580 WIBW radio with Mark Elliott and Jake Lebahn calling the action. The game will also be streamed live on the wusports.com website by following the listen live links on the men's basketball schedule page.

 The Coaches

Washburn Ichabod head basketball coach Bob Chipman 

• is in his 35th season at the helm of the Ichabods.

• a 1973 graduate of Kansas State earning both his undergraduate and master's degree in Manhattan.

• is 755-312 overall.

• has 514 wins since the Ichabods joined the MIAA, the most of any conference school since the 1989-90 season.

• has led the Ichabods to 12 MIAA regular season titles and a MIAA-coaching tops of five postseason MIAA tournament championships.

• has led the Ichabods to 12 NCAA National Tournament appearances.

• in home games, he is 439-81 going 388-70 in Lee Arena.

• is second in all-time coaching victories in active NCAA Division II coaches.

• his 755 coaching wins is 22nd in all-time NCAA coaches at all levels.

• led the Ichabods to the 1987 NAIA National Championship and a 2001 NCAA National game, which was later vacated by Kentucky Wesleyan. 

• Chipman played for legendary coach Jack Hartman earning two letters.

Fort Hays State head coach Mark Johnson

• is 266-110 in his career, now in his 12th season at Fort Hays State. 

• Johnson became just the third coach in FHSU history to reach 200 wins in men's basketball on February 5, 2011 with a win over Washburn in Hays. 

• He joined Cade Suran (257) and Bill Morse (235) as the only coaches to reach 200 wins at FHSU. 

• Johnson is the second-fastest to 200 wins among the three, as Morse reached the mark in just 241 games, while Johnson did it in 285 games. 

• He is 11-7 against the Ichabods.

 Ichabod Player Notes

#3 • Jeff Reid • Had a career-high four steals in the first meeting with FHSU.

#4 • Andy Wilson • His two assists against FHSU in the first meeting tied a season high.

#5 • Korey Fisher • His five assists against FHSU in the first meeting was a season high.

#11 • Kyle Wiggins • His four steals against FHSU in the first meeting was a career high.

#13 • Chris Deanes • Ten of his 35 rebounds this season have been offensive.

#14 • Christian Ulsaker • Will miss the rest of the season with a wrist injury and will apply for a medical redshirt playing in only four games.

#15 • Evan Robinson • Has two rebounds this season.

#21 • Chris Davis • Nineteen of his 35 field goals this season have been 3-pointers.

#22 • Alex North • His 18 field goal attempts against FHSU was a career high in the first meeting.

#24 • Stephon Drane • Team-high 15 blocks this season.

#31 • Leon Flowers • The lone senior on the team averaging 10.1 ppg this season compared to 2.7 as a junior.

#32 • Dalton Abel • Scored first three points of the season hitting a 3-pointer against Missouri Southern.

#34 • Jeremy Lickteig • Has eight blocks this season.

#42 • Colton Anderson • has at least one rebound in each of the last four games played.

 Last Time Out For The Ichabods

Northeastern state 68 • Washburn 59 • Feb. 15, 2014

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Washburn Ichabods were down by two with 3:13 to play but were outscored 8-3 down the stretch in a 68-59 loss at Northeastern State. 

Washburn (15-8, 8-8 MIAA) trailed by as many as six in the second half, but rallied to tie the score at 38 with 11:56 to play. However the RiverHawks (12-10, 7-8 MIAA) answered with a 3-pointer and would build their lead back to six again at 46-40 with 9:12 to go in the game.

Washburn cut the lead to three at 56-53 on a pair of free throws, but again NSU pushed the lead back to six on a 3-pointer by Landon DeMasters with 3:54 to play. But on its next possession Washburn cut the lead in half on a 3-pointer by Leon Flowers. Washburn cut the lead to two with 3:13 to go on a free throw by Flowers with 3:13 to go.

Neither team would score again until 1:57 remaining when NSU connected on a pair of free throws pushing their lead back to four with at 61-57. Washburn missed a 3-point attempt with 1:01 remaining.

Washburn fouled the RiverHawks with 37 seconds remaining and hit one of two attempts to lead by five. Washburn turned the ball over and NSU converted it for a score going up seven and the Ichabods would get no closer in the loss.

The Ichabods trailed 30-24 at the break after shooting only 35 percent from the field while the RiverHawks were 10 of 20 overall. Washburn fell behind 14-5 to NSU 6:06 into the game but came back to tie the score at 24 with 3:35 to play in the stanza. From that point NSU outscored the Ichabods 6-0 to end the game with a lay up and four free throws after a technical on the Washburn bench.

Alex North led the Ichabods with 16 points while pulling down a game-high nine rebounds. Jeff Reid scored 15 points and Stephon Drane scored 12 going 6 of 9 from the field.

Marcus Sheppard led the RiverHawks with 16 points.

Washburn finished the game shooting 42 percent from the field going 12 of 23 in the second half, but finished 11 of 18 from the free throw line for a 61 percent average. Northeastern State shot 49 percent from the field going 21 of 43 overall and 15 of 17 from the free throw line hitting 9 of 11 attempts in the second half.

The Ichabods held a 31 to 25 advantage on the glass and outscored the RiverHawks 30 to 16 in the paint. Northeastern State's bench outscored the Ichabod bench 28 to 16.

 Northeastern State Leftovers

• NSU leads the series 3-1 all-time.

• Washburn fell to 2-6 in road games -- all MIAA games.

   
 About Fort Hays State

• Craig Nicholson leads FHSU in scoring and assists, averaging 17.7 points and 7.7 assists per game. He ranks third in the nation in assists per game. 

• Dwayne Brunson is right behind Nicholson in scoring at 17.6 points per game and leads the team in rebounds with 7.8 per game. 

• Carson Konrade also averages double figures in scoring at 13.3 points per game. 

• James Fleming, who matched his season-high 20 points in the last game, is the top scorer off the bench at 9.5 per game.

• The Tigers are currently tied for third in the MIAA standings with Missouri Southern at 11-4. The Tigers are only 1.5 games clear of Central Oklahoma in the standings, which hosts Northeastern State on Saturday. Central Oklahoma has just three regular season games left, including a match-up with the Tigers in Hays next Wednesday (Feb. 26). 

 Series History With Fort Hays State

• Washburn leads the all-time series 88-67 and Wednesday's meeting will be the 158th between the two schools. 

• The Ichabods have won the last five of the last six in the series.

• The series is the third-most played for Washburn behind Emporia State (203) and Pittsburg State (173). 

• Washburn is 17-5 against the Tigers in Lee Arena. 

• Fort Hays State is 5-2 against WU in overtime games. 

• The teams have only met once in the MIAA Tournament with the Ichabods winning 67-54 in the MIAA Tournament semifinals on March 3, 2012 in Kansas City. 

 Last Time Out for Fort Hays State

HAYS, Kan. -- Fort Hays State moved to 20-4 overall and 11-4 in the MIAA with an 87-69 win over Pittsburg State on Saturday (Feb. 15) at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. Leading by only six at halftime, FHSU pulled away with a 19-1 run near the midway point of the second half to take control of the game and remain in a third-place tie in the MIAA standings with Missouri Southern.

The first half was a see-saw battle with seven lead changes and five ties. FHSU scored four points in the final second of the first half to take its six-point lead at the break, all by Achoki Moikobu. He hit the back end of two shots at the free-throw line, then Pittsburg State's inbounds sailed over everyone to the other end of the floor, giving the ball back to FHSU under it's own basket with 0.7 seconds remaining. Moikobu buried a long 3-pointer as time expired to give FHSU a bit of breathing room.

Pittsburg State used a 5-0 run out of the half to quickly shave the FHSU lead back to one. FHSU led by just three when it went on the 19-1 run to put away the game, occurring from the 15:53 mark to 11:45 mark. FHSU maintained the large margin the rest of the way, never letting PSU closer than 17 points the rest of the way. The largest lead was 23 with 2:50 remaining in the game.

James Fleming led the Tigers in scoring with 20 points off the bench, tying his career high as a Tiger. He buried three 3-point field goals and went 11-of-12 at the free-throw line. Dwayne Brunson had 17 points and Achoki Moikobu also tied his career high as a Tiger off the bench with 16 points. He was 3-of-3 from the field, including two 3-pointers, and 8-of-9 at the free-throw line. Tomislav Gabric added 13 points, Jake Stoppel led the Tigers in rebounds with six, and Craig Nicholson led in assists with six.

Jake Bullard led Pittsburg State with 19 points, while Devon Branch added 15. Connor Kjer and Josiah Gustafson each had 12.

 Last Meeting With Fort Hays State

HAYS, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods trailed by as 14 at halftime and by as many as 17 in the second half but came up shy of the comeback win falling 87-85 to No. 24-ranked Fort Hays State.

The Tigers' Dwayne Brunson hit a jumper with 0.3 left to put the Tigers (18-3, 9-3 MIAA) up and then stole the ensuing inbounds pass to lock up the game snapping the Ichabods (14-5, 7-5 MIAA) five game winning streak over the Fort Hays State.

Washburn trailed by 17 in the second half with 16:23 to go at 50-33 before Washburn outscored the Tigers the rest of the half 44-27 with 10 of Washburn's 13 field goals were 3-pointers. Alex North hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with four seconds remaining to tie the game at 77 sending the game into overtime after the Tigers shot came up short at the buzzer.

In the overtime period the Tigers Carson Konrade scored the first four points from the free throw line and then a 3-pointer by Jeff Reid and a layup by Kyle Wiggins put Washburn up 82-81 with 2:47 to play. The Tigers tied the game with 2:20 remaining and Washburn regained the lead with a free throw by North with 2:07 at 83-82 and Wiggins put Washburn up 85-82 with 1:28 left. Konrade tied it with a 3-pointer with 1:02 remaining and neither team scored until Brunson's game-winner.

Washburn trailed 43-29 at the break after shooting 10 of 25 from the field while the Tigers were 15 of 27 in the opening half. The Ichabods improved to 15 of 28 from the field going 10 of 16 from 3-point range finishing 14 of 25 from 3-point land. The 14 was one shy of the school record. Washburn finished 15 of 22 from the free throw line and the Tigers were 26 of 30.

North led five Ichabods in double figures with 23 points recording his fourth-straight double double adding 12 rebounds. Chris Davis scored 14 hitting all four 3-point attempts. Leon Flowers and Wiggins each scored 13 and Reid finished with 12.

Craig Nicholson led the Tigers with 23 points adding eight assists.

 Ichabods in the national rankings

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Ichabods fell out of the rankings after the loss to Missouri Southern and received votes in the last two weeks worth of polls, but fell completely out after the loss to Northwest Missouri. The first regional rankings will come out on Feb. 19.

 Ichabod basketball history

• The Ichabods are 1465-982-4 (.591) all-time in the 109th year in the program's history.

• Washburn is the eighth-winningest program in NCAA Division II history by victories.

• Washburn is the winningest MIAA program since the 1989-90 season with an overall record of 514-231.

• The Ichabods have recorded 25 20-win seasons and they have one 30-win seasons after going 35-4 during the 1986-87 NAIA Championship season.

• Washburn has won 21 conference championships including 10 MIAA titles.

• Washburn has received 12 NCAA Tournament bids going to three Elite Eight's appearing in the 2001 NCAA National Championship game.

 Home sweet home

• The Ichabods are 388-70 (.848) all-time in Lee Arena.

• The 2013-14 season marks the 29th season of play in Lee Arena.

• 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 finish up the regular season with road contests at Emporia State on Feb. 22 and at Pittsburg State on March 1.