Opening Tip

• The Washburn Ichabods will wrap up the regular season at Pittsburg State on Saturday with a 3:30 p.m. tip from John Lance Arena.

• Washburn (16-9, 9-9 MIAA) lost last time out on Feb. 22 at Emporia State 88-76.

• Washburn won the first match up of the season with Pitt State on Jan. 18 in an 83-80 win over the Gorillas in Topeka.

• Pitt State is 8-17 this season going 4-14 in the MIAA and they need a win to have a chance at the postseason tournament.

• The Ichabods and Nebraska-Kearney are currently tied for seventh in the MIAA standings. UNK is hosting Central Oklahoma on Friday night. The top four teams (Northwest Missouri, Central Missouri, Missouri Southern and Fort Hays State have already received an automatic bye to Kansas City. Teams who finish fifth through eighth will host a play in game on March 4.

• The final seedings for the tournament will be announced after the completion of all games on Saturday by the MIAA office.

 Bod Notes

• In the Ichabod nine losses this season, their opponents have attempted 273 free throws compared to 226 for Washburn.

• In the losses, Washburn has made 153 free throws compared to 203 for their opponents and the Ichabods have been whistled for 34 more fouls.

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

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

• The Ichabods have been outscored 417 to 340 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 Emporia State it marked the fifth 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; 50 at ESU)

• The Ichabods have hit at least one 3-pointer in 307 games entering the match up with Pitt State. 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 in the first meeting.

• Alex North went over the 700-point mark in career points against Fort Hays State. He has scored 708 points in 86 games averaging 8.2 a game including a 15.6 ppg average this season. He went over the 450-rebound total against Central Oklahoma and he is entering Saturday's game with Pitt State with 477 career boards.

• Jeff Reid went over the 700-point plateau against Northeastern State as he now has 730 in his third season at Washburn and has averaged 8.7 ppg in 84 career games. He is averaging 10.0 ppg this season.

• Kyle Wiggins went over the 700-point mark against the Lopers in the second meeting. He now has 742 for his Washburn career averaging 8.8 ppg in 84 games including 14.1 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 756-313 overall.

• has 515 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 440-81 going 389-70 in Lee Arena.

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

• his 756 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.

Pittsburg State head coach Kevin Muff

• is in his fourth season leading the Gorillas. 

• Muff (Kansas State, '86) became the Gorillas' 14th all-time head coach on Apr. 5, 2010, after spending 12 seasons at Cloud County Community College, where he helped the Thunderbirds to an average of 21 wins in each of the last five seasons. 

• is 56-52 in his fourth season at Pittsburg State.

• is 1-6 against the Ichabods.

 Ichabod Player Notes

#3 • Jeff Reid • His 110 career 3-pointers is ninth on the all-time chart Washburn chart.

#4 • Andy Wilson • Fourteen of his 27 field goals this season have been from 3-point range.

#5 • Korey Fisher • Tied a season-high with three steals against ESU last time out.

#11 • Kyle Wiggins • Needs one more assist to reach 100 for the season …he had 30 as a freshman and 59 as a sophomore.

#13 • Chris Deanes • Ten of his 37 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 39 field goals this season have been 3-pointers.

#22 • Alex North • His 245 rebounds this season ranks sixth on the all-time Washburn junior chart and his 9.8 rpg average is sixth on the Washburn single season chart.

#24 • Stephon Drane • Team-high 18 blocks this season.

#31 • Leon Flowers • Tied a career high with six 3-point attempts against Pitt State in the first meeting.

#34 • Jeremy Lickteig • His four rebounds against Emporia State last time out tied a career high.

#42 • Colton Anderson • Recorded his first assist of the season against Emporia State last time out.

 Last Time Out For The Ichabods

Emporia state 88 • Washburn 76 • Feb. 22, 2014

EMPORIA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabod basketball team fell behind 13-2 and rallied late coming up short in an 88-76 loss at Emporia State. 

The Hornets jumped out to a 13-2 lead as the Ichabods were held to one field goal over the first 5:09 of the game. Washburn came back after a 14-8 run to cut the lead to 23-18 with 9:52 to play in the opening half. The Hornets would go on to lead by 10 in the half before the Ichabods cut the lead back to four at the break as ESU led 38-34. Washburn shot 43 percent in the half from the field hitting 12 of 28 field goals, but struggled from the line going 10 of 18.

In the second half the Hornets jumped out to an 11-point lead after going on a 9-2 run to start the stanza. Washburn cut the lead back to six at 57-51 with 14:23 to play and after ESU stretched the lead back to 10 with 13:22 to play, Washburn returned with a 9-2 run over their own cutting the margin to three after a 3-pointer by Leon Flowers with ESU leading 65-62. However a 20-5 run over the next 6:53 by the Hornets put ESU up 18 with 2:59 to play as the Hornets hit 12 of 15 free throws during the stretch to put the game away.

The Ichabods were led by Flowers' 15 points and Kyle Wiggins finished with 14 points. Korey Fisher had nine points and a team-high five assists. Kaleb Wright led the Hornets with a game-high 30 points.

Washburn shot 52 percent in the second half hitting 16 of 31 from the field, but ESU finished the half at 56 percent finishing at 50 percent from the field overall. Washburn had one more field goal than the Hornets did in the game, but was outshot from the free throw line by 12 makes as ESU finished 29 of 35 compared to the Ichabods 17 of 29. ESU also had a 35 to 30 advantage on the glass. ESU took advantage of 12 offensive rebounds with 21 second chance points compared to seven for the Ichabods. 

 About Pittsburg State

• Pitt State enters this week's action with three players averaging in double figures on the season: junior guard Devon Branch (20.1 ppg), sophomore guard Jake Bullard (14.8 ppg) and senior guard Sam Pugh (11.0 ppg).

• Branch currently ranks third in the MIAA in scoring. He scored 20 points in the Gorillas season opener against Newman on Nov. 13 before exiting the game with a knee injury. He missed three games, before returning to the Pitt State lineup Nov. 22. The Aberdeen, Md., native tallied a season-high 32 points against Southwest Baptist on Feb. 4.

• Branch transferred to Pitt State last January from the University of Oregon. He did not play for the Ducks, but he averaged 22 points per game as a sophomore at Cloud County Community College in 2011, leading the Jayhawk Conference in scoring.

• Branch posted 30 points and 16 rebounds in the Gorillas' exhibition loss to Kansas State on Nov. 1. He also scored a game-high 27 points on Oct. 29 in an exhibition loss to the University of Kansas.

• Pugh is averaging 11.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a team-leading 1.3 steals per game. He leads the team with a 3-point percentage of 52.6 (41-for-78). After missing the last seven games due to injury (concussion), he is returned to the court against the Hornets Wednesday scoring 12 points in 24 minutes.

• As a team, the Gorillas are shooting 46.5 percent from the field (656-1410)and 36.9 percent from 3-point range (179-485). Pitt State also is shooting 73.2 percent from the free throw line (461-630).

 Series History With Pittsburg State

• Saturday's meeting will be the 174th between these two schools in a series that dates back to the first meeting on Feb. 19, 1920.

• The two games on Feb. 19 and Feb. 20 of 1920 were both played in Topeka inside an empty Thomas Gymnasium because of a flu outbreak in Topeka.

• Washburn leads the all-time series 98-75.  

• The Ichabods have won the last 11 of the last 12 meetings including the last four. 

• The Ichabods are 29-2 in Lee Arena against PSU and 29-13 against the Gorillas in MIAA play. The home team is 29-7 in the last 36 regular season meetings, dating back to 1996-97. 

• The series goes back to 1919-20 and it has been played at least once a year since 1941-42. 

• Since the 1956-57 season, the Ichabods are 24-30 in Pittsburg while going 8-11 in Pittsburg since becoming a member of the MIAA. 

• Bob Chipman is 51-17 against Pittsburg State.  

 Last Time Out for Pittsburg State

February 26, 2014-PITTSBURG -- With its back against the proverbial postseason wall, the Pittsburg State University men's basketball team responded with a much-needed victory, turning back MIAA rival Emporia State University, 84-76, Wednesday (Feb. 26) at John Lance Arena.

The win, coupled with the University of Central Missouri's 80-57 victory over Missouri Western State University, keeps the Gorillas hopes for post-season play alive heading into Saturday's regular season finale against Washburn University.

Pitt State (8-17, 4-14) snapped a seven-game losing streak with a balanced offensive attack against ESU, which wrapped up its regular season play 17-12 overall and 10-9 in MIAA action.

Jake Bullard poured in a game-high 24 points, including an 11 for 13 night at the free throw line, to lead four Gorillas in double figures.

Devon Branch added 19 points, including 11 in the second half. Sam Pugh added 12 points in his return to the lineup after an eight-game absence to due injury. Connor Kjer also chipped in with 10 points.

The Gorillas trailed by as many as 11 points with 2:04 to play in the first half before making their second-half comeback. Pitt State took the lead, at 50-49, on a Bullard dunk with 13:42 to play in the game.

From there, the Gorillas stretched their margin to seven, at 64-57, with 7:45 to go. The Hornets battled back to within a point, at 67-66, with 4:58 to go on Terrence Moore's driving layup, but Pitt State scored nine of the next 10 points to reclaim control.

Kaleb Wright (23) and Moore (22) combined for 45 points for the Hornets.

 Last Meeting With Pittsburg State

(Jan. 8, 2014) TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn's Korey Fisher scored all eight of the Ichabods' final points as Washburn turned a 78-77 deficit with 1:22 to play to an 83-80 win over Pittsburg State snapping a two-game losing streak. 

Washburn was down 78-77 with 1:22 to play and Korey Fisher completed the traditional 3-point play tying the score at 78 each. The Gorillas' Devon Branch, who led all scorers with 31 points connected on a layup putting Pitt State back up 80-78 with 1:12 to go. The on the Ichabods' next possession, Fisher his a 3-pointer from the top of the key putting the ichabods in front 81-80 with 49 seconds to play. The Gorillas came up empty on their next drive and fouled. Washburn missed both free throws with two seconds to play. The Gorillas' potential 3-pointer at the buzzer was short and the Ichabods (12-3, 5-3 MIAA) held on for the win.

The score was tied at 39 at the break as the Ichabods shot 50 percent from the field while the Gorillas (6-8, 2-5 MIAA) were at 41 percent, but PSU was 12 of 14 from the free throw line including hitting two before the game started as the Ichabods were whistled for dunking in pregame.

Alex North led all five starters in double figures with 18 points as well as a game-high seven rebounds. Leon Flowers, Jeff Reid and Fisher each had 14 and Kyle Wiggins scored 11. Washburn was outrebounded 35 to 32 in the game recording eight offensive rebounds. The 32 rebounds were a season-low for the Ichabods. Washburn finished with season-high 11 3-pointers in the game in 26 attempts.

There were 11 lead changes in the game and the score was tied 11 times overall.

 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 1466-983-4 (.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 515-231.

• 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 389-70 (.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

• Time will tell. Depending on how the games come out in the MIAA on Saturday will decide where and who the Ichabods will play in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament. A win over Pittsburg State guarantees the Ichabods a home game on March 4 with an opponent to be determined. The top four teams in the final MIAA standings receive a bye to Kansas City and teams five through eight in the final standings will host a first round game on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at four campus sites. The winners of the first round games on campus will then proceed to Kansas City for the remainder of the tournament.