Opening Tip
•     The Washburn Ichabods will start the home stretch of the regular season with six of their next nine games in Lee Arena as they start with Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
•    The Ichabods (10-11, 5-5 MIAA) are coming off an 80-73 loss at Northeastern State wrapping up a four-game road trip.
•    The Lopers (12-5, 7-3 MIAA) stepped out of MIAA play in their last game topping South Dakota Mines 99-62 on Jan. 23.
•    The Ichabods are 12-4 all-time in games played against the Lopers in Topeka.
•    Kyle Wiggins became the 22nd person to go over the 1,000-point mark for his career against the Mules  and he now has 1,077 points in four years … his point total is 15th all-time at Washburn … next on the chart is Todd Alexander (1990-93) and Tom Carlson (1944-49) who each scored 1,099 points ranking tied for 14th overall.
•    Kyle Wiggins needs four 3-pointers to reach 100 for his career …he ranks 14th overall in 3-pointers at Washburn.
•    Alex North needs 21 points to reach 1,000 for his career entering the game with 979 points. In Washburn's 110-year of men's basketball, only 22 players have reached the 1,000-point mark. 
•    The Ichabods have never had two different players go over the 1,000-point mark in the same season.
•    The Ichabods will take on Fort Hays State on Jan. 31 on Schendel Court in Lee Arena in their next contest before hitting the road for two more games starting at Emporia State on Feb. 4 and then they will face Nebraska-Kearney for the second time in 10 days when they will travel to Kearney to battle the Lopers on Feb. 7.  
•    This season Kyle Wiggins is averaging 13.5 ppg, but scoring 17.8 ppg during MIAA play.
•    The Ichabods have 30 regular season games scheduled this season and also had three exhibition games against NCAA Division I members Kansas, Kansas State and Oklahoma to have 33 games before the MIAA Tournament starts.
•    The Ichabods have used 11 different starting line ups this season.
    
 Bod Notes
•    Alex North has recorded 15 double doubles in his career at Washburn with his last one coming against Northeastern State on Jan. 24 … he scored his 950th career point against Pittsburg State and has played in 107 games with 74 starts … he went over the 600-rebound mark for his career against Central Missouri … he has 979 career points averaging 9.1 ppg in his career and 6.0 rpg at Washburn … his 109 career 3-pointers at Washburn rank 10th all-time and he needs three more to move into the top nine … his 637 career rebounds is sixth all-time at Washburn and he needs two more to move into the top five … he has reached double figure scoring in 44 games as an Ichabod … his five 3-pointers against Northeastern State was a career-high.
•    Kyle Wiggins has averaged 10.1 ppg in 107 games making 65 starts … he went over the 1,000-point mark against Central Missouri … he also has gone over the 200-rebound mark for his career and has 229 and he went over the 200-assist mark in Hawaii and has 235 for his career … his 1,077 career points is 15th all-time at Washburn … he became just the seventh Ichabod to record at least 1,000 points and have 200 assists in a career.
•    Ichabod junior Christian Ulsaker is averaging 6.1 points with 4.0 rebounds a game this season seeing his first action in almost a month against Baker last time out after suffering a broken jaw against Missouri Southern … he recorded his first career double double against Peru State with 10 points and 10 rebounds and made his fourth start of the season against Northeastern State.
•    The Ichabods have hit at least one 3-pointer in 331 games … the last game the Ichabods did not hit a 3-pointer was Dec. 30, 2003 at Missouri Western.
•    Algie Key had a season-high 22 points in the loss at BYU-Hawaii adding five assists … he is averaging 8.7 points and 3.8 rebounds a game in his first season at Washburn after transferring from Alabama.
•    Turon Parker is scoring 6.8 ppg this season adding 34 assists and 14 steals in his first season as an Ichabod … he had a season-high eight rebounds against Tabor.
•    Kevin House leads the team with 40 assists this season while adding 4.5 points and 1.8 rebounds per game … he is 36 of 43 from the free throw line this season for a team-high 84 percent.
•    Jeremy Lickteig scored a career-high 19 points against Northwest Indian College going 9 of 10 from the field … he made his first career start against BYU-Hawaii.
•    The Ichabods are 126 of 388 from 3-point range this season with Kyle Wiggins hitting a team-high 29 of 74 attempts … Alex North has hit 23 of 67 attempts and Andy Wilson has hit 18 of 53 attempts … Ichabod opponents are 167 of 435 from 3-point range this season.
•    Brady Skeens recorded a season-high 14 points in his second game of the season against Tabor after having his planned redshirt pulled prior to the Rockhurst game and recorded a season-high four blocks against Central Oklahoma.
•    David Salach has started nine games this season has averaged 3.9 rebounds a game this season and he is averaging 4.7 rebounds per game in MIAA play, which is second behind Alex North's 6.7 rebounds in during league play.
•    Washburn is 285 of 437 from the free throw line for a 65 percent average while its opponents are 315 of 441 hitting 71 percent of their charity stripe attempts … in MIAA play the Ichabods have improved to 138 of 201 from the line for a 69 percent average while opponents are 135 of 191 in MIAA play for a 70 percent average.
•    Washburn is +2.0 in rebounding margin and have been outrebounded in eight games this season.
•    The Ichabods have outscored their opponents 674 to 605 in the first half of games, but have been outscored 833 to 799 in the second half of games.

 Ichabods on Radio
Washburn games will be broadcast on AM580 WIBW radio with Jake Lebahn calling the action and color commentary from Pat Strathman. 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 36th season at the helm of the Ichabods.
•     a 1973 graduate of Kansas State earning both his undergraduate and master's degree in Manhattan.
•     is 767-325 overall.
•     has 526 wins since the Ichabods joined the MIAA, the most of any conference school since the 1989-90 season.
•    is the MIAA's all-time winningest coach by victories with 526.
•     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 446-84 going 395-73 in Lee Arena.
•     is second in all-time coaching victories in active NCAA Division II coaches.
•     his 767 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.

Nebraska-Kearney co-head basketball coach Tom Kropp
•     is in his 24th year as co-head coach at Nebraska-Kearney. Kropp (Nebraska-Kearney, '75) has notched a 464-235 (.662) mark at UNK. 
•      is 2-2 against Washburn.

Nebraska-Kearney co-head basketball coach Kevin Lofton
•     is in his 10th year as co-head coach at Nebraska-Kearney. He has recorded a 150-120 (.555) mark at UNK. 
•      is 2-2 against Washburn.

 Last Time Out For The Ichabods
Northeastern state 80, washburn 73 • Jan. 25, 2015
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- The Washburn Ichabods jumped out to a 13-2 lead but ran into a buzzsaw as the Northeastern State RiverHawks hit 9 first half 3-pointers as they topped Washburn 80-73.
The RiverHawks from the early lead by the Ichabods, NSU outscored Washburn 34-13 over the final 15:45 of the first half hitting 10 of 16 shots going 9 of 13 from 3-point range to take a 36-26 lead into the break at the half. Washburn was 10 of 26 overall and 4 of 9 from 3-point range and outrebounding the RiverHawks 16 to 12 holding NSU without an offensive rebound.
The Ichabods came back in the second half to take a 56-55 lead with 5:37 to play after a pair of free throws by Korey Fisher but back to back 3's by the RiverHawks pushed the lead out to six and then a field goal and a free throw by the RiverHawks put NSU up 64-56 with 2:57 to play. A 3-pointer by Alex North cut the lead to five with 2:46 remaining.
A free throw by David Salach cut the RiverHawk lead back to four at 64-60 with 1:59 to play in the game.
The RiverHawks connected on two free throws to go back up 66-60 with 1:36 to play. 
The Ichabods came up empty on their next time down the court and NSU hit 14 of its final 14 free throws of the game to hold on for the nine-point win.
North led the Ichabods with 21 points and 10 rebounds recording his 15th double double at Washburn in the process. Kyle Wiggins scored 16 before fouling out and David Salach scored 11.
Washburn finished the game 27 of 55 from the field shooting 49 percent overall while the RiverHawks were 23 of 46 overall only hitting three 3-pointers in the second half but finished 22 fo 28 from the free throw line compared to 10 of 17 for the Ichabods. 

 About Nebraska-Kearney
•    The Lopers are 12-5 this season and have gone 7-3 in MIAA play.
•    UNK has won its last four games and have gone 8-2 in its last 10.
•    Connor Beranek has led the team in scoring in 11 times leading the team with 18.4 ppg while Ethan Brozek is scoring 17.9 ppg with a team-high 8.9 rebounds …Beranek is second on the team in rebounding at 7.3 per game.
•    Brozek has seven double doubles this season and Beranek has two.
•    The Lopers are averaging 78.6 ppg while allowing 73.0 and have hit 130 3-pointers this season shooting 39 percent from deep.
•    They are 277 of 375 from the free throw line for a 74 percent average and they shoot 49 percent from the field overall.

 Series History with Nebraska-Kearney
•      Thursday's meeting will be the 35th in the series and it is tied 17-17.
•    The Ichabods have won seven of the last nine meetings.
•      All-time in games in Kearney, the Ichabods are 5-13 after losing the first 11 times they played there.
•     Washburn leads 12-4 in games played in Topeka.

 Last meeting with Nebraska-Kearney
(Feb. 8, 2014) TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn's Alex North scored a career-high 31 points going 9 of 12 from the field but it wasn't enough as the Ichabods let a double digit lead slip away in a 90-84 loss to Nebraska-Kearney. 
As was the case in the first meeting 10 days ago, Washburn built an early lead going up by as many as 12 in the first half before taking a 46-39 lead into the halftime break. Both teams shot above 50 percent from the field as the Ichabods were 15 of 24 for a 63 percent average while the Lopers were 14 of 28 overall. Washburn led by 14 in the first meeting in Kearney on Jan. 30 with 3:33 to play in the first half before losing 88-79.
In the second half, Washburn scored the first points of the half taking a nine point lead and then the Lopers chipped into the Ichabod lead coming back to tie the score at 57 with 11:18 to play.  With Washburn holding a one point lead at 61-60 with 9:47 to play, North would score 10 of the Ichabods' next 12 points capping the scoring run with a 3-pointer with 7:21 remaining putting Washburn up 71-67 with 6:54 to play, however the Lopers would go on a 20-6 run over the next 6:36 of the game as Washburn went cold from the field going 0 of 9 down the stretch including missing all four 3-pointers while the Lopers were 4 of 6 from the field going 12 of 13 from the free throw line.
Washburn did cut the lead to three at 85-82 with 27 seconds to play after another 3-pointer by North but the Lopers finished 5 of 6 from the free throw line in the last 22 seconds to hold on for the winning sweeping the regular season series.
North finished with a game-high 31 points going 9 of 12 from the field including 4 of 6 from 3-point range and 9 of 12 from the free throw line for his highwater point mark in a Washburn uniform. He also tied a career-high with four steals adding three assists. Kyle Wiggins had 19 with six assists and Korey Fisher had 11.
Connor Beranek had 18 to lead six Lopers in double figures adding 10 rebounds.
Washburn finished 27 of 62 overall cooling off to 32 percent shooting in the second half (12 of 38) while the Lopers continued their hot shooting from the first half going 13 of 24 finishing the game at 52 percent overall. The Lopers attempted 38 free throws hitting 29 while the Ichabods were 24 of 30 in the game. Washburn turned the ball over a season-low five times in the game. Washburn was also outrebounded 37 to 32 in the loss.

 Last time out for Nebraska-Kearney
(Jan. 23, 2015) Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney men's basketball team shot a season-high 61 percent from the field, and made a season-best 14 three pointers along the way, to rock South Dakota Mines, 99-62, Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.
 This was UNK's (12-5) final non-MIAA game of the season. Currently a Division II independent but a future member of the RMAC, the Hardrockers fall to 7-15 and to 1-9 on the road.
 Earlier this season in Rapid City, the Lopers managed a 78-63 win. Kearney came out red out, hitting three threes and getting a dunk from junior forward Connor Beranek (Ravenna) to lead 23-10 six minutes in.
 However, Mines used some inside strength to keep things close and to trail by just a 42-34 score at the break. The 'Rockers then got an "old fashioned" three point play from post Andrew Rebol to start the second half.
 That's when UNK exploded, going on a 26-8 run over a seven minute span to lead 68-45. A three from Iowa freshman Trey Lansman, and then two more by York freshman Ty Danielson, began the game changing run. Post Ethan Brozek (Norfolk Catholic H.S.) then got in the act, scoring 11 of his 17 points during this stretch.
 UNK ended the night by making 38 of 62 shots, including 14 of 22 from downtown. This is the third time this winter the Lopers have had a double digit trey total with the 14 being just three off the school mark.
 Showing its depth and balance, Kearney had eight different players make at least one three and 11 players put their name into the scoring column. Beranek did that early and often, making his first seven field goals to end with a game-high 24 points. Handing out six assists, he finished 11 of 15 from the floor.
 Next, Brozek recorded his seventh double double of the season (17 pts., 10 rebs.) and had five assists for a second straight night. Finally, Lansman (13) and Nevada senior Davion Pearson (10) were in double figures with Wisconsin sophomore post having five points in five minutes off the bench.
 Rebol led the 'Rockers with 19 points and five rebounds (four offensive). He was 8 of 10 from the field as Mines shot a respectable 41%.
 
 Ichabod basketball history
•     The Ichabods are 1477-995-4 (.591) all-time in the 110th 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 526-241 since joining the conference and the NCAA.
•    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 395-73 (.848) all-time in Lee Arena.
•     The 2014-15 season marks the 30th 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
•    The Ichabods will take on Fort Hays State on Jan. 31 on Schendel Court in Lee Arena in their next contest before hitting the road for two more games starting at Emporia State on Feb. 4 and then they will face Nebraska-Kearney for the second time in 10 days when they will travel to Kearney to battle the Lopers on Feb. 7.