Opening Tip
•     The Washburn Ichabods will wrap up the regular season with Pittsburg State on Saturday night on Schendel Court at Lee Arena at 7 p.m.
•    The Ichabods (14-15, 9-9 MIAA) are coming off a 79-54 win over Emporia State last week on Feb. 28.
•     The Gorillas (16-10, 12-6 MIAA) are coming off a 74-67 win over Emporia State on Wednesday night.
•    The Gorillas won the first meeting with the Ichabods  82-40 on Jan. 17 in Pittsburg.
•    The 42-point winning margin by the Gorillas was the  biggest by an Ichabod opponent since the Ichabods had become a member of the NCAA and the second biggest loss next to a 71-5 win by Kansas State over the Ichabods during the 1916-17 season.
•    The 40 points scored by the Ichabods were also the fewest by an Ichabod team since moving to the NCAA ranks.
•    The Ichabods are going for win No. 400 in Lee Arena. The Ichabods overall are 399-74 since the first game during the 1983-84 season.
•    Kyle Wiggins became the 22nd person to go over the 1,000-point mark for his career against the Mules  and he now has 1,227 points in four years and he passed Jemi Johnson against Fort Hays State … his point total is 11th all-time at Washburn … next on the chart is Eric Carter who scored 1,241 points in three years from 1997-2001 which ranks 10th on the all-time scoring chart at Washburn.
•    Kyle Wiggins went over the 100 career 3-point mark against Fort Hays State … he ranks 10th overall in 3-pointers at Washburn with 114.
•    Alex North became the 23rd Ichabod to reach 1,000 for his career against Fort Hays State and he enters the game with the ESU with 1,051 points which is 17th all-time at Washburn as he passed Travis Robbins against the Tigers in the second meeting. He needs four points to move into 16th on the all-time Ichabod chart.
•    With Kyle Wiggins and Alex North going over the 1,000-point mark in a career it marked the first time Washburn had two different players go over the 1,000-point mark in the same season.
•    The MIAA Tournament starts its first round games on campus sites on March 2 and the tournament continues in Kansas City on March 5. Seedings will be announced after the final games on Saturday night. 
•    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 14 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 1,000th career point against Fort Hays State and has played in 115 games with 82 starts … he went over the 650-rebound mark for his career against Emporia State … he has 1,051 career points averaging 9.1 ppg in his career and 6.0 rpg at Washburn ranks 15th at Washburn … his 116 career 3-pointers at Washburn are ninth all-time … his 681 692 rebounds are fifth all-time at Washburn … he has reached double figure scoring in 48 games as an Ichabod … he also ranks seventh in minutes played (2,863), 15th in free throws made (243), eighth in games started (82), 20th in steals (81) and 23rd in assists (195) as an Ichabod … he is one of 10 Ichabods to have recorded at least 1,000 points and 500 rebounds and with five more assists he would become the eighth Ichabod to record 1,000 points and 200 assists.
•    Kyle Wiggins has averaged 10.7 ppg in 115 games making 73 starts … he went over the 1,000-point mark against Central Missouri … he also has gone over the 250-rebound mark against Northeastern State and for his career and has 260 and he went over the 200-assist mark in Hawaii and has 250 for his career … his 1,227 career points is 11th 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 6.6 points with 3.8 rebounds a game this season … he recorded his first career double double against Peru State with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
•    The Ichabods have hit at least one 3-pointer in 339 straight games … the last game the Ichabods did not hit a 3-pointer was Dec. 30, 2003 at Missouri Western … the Ichabods have not in a 3-pointer in only five games since the 3-point line came into existence prior to the 1986-87 season - a total of 877 of 882 games played at Washburn.
•    Algie Key had a season-high 25 points in the loss at Nebraska-Kearney adding three assists and three steals in 33 minutes … he hit a season-high 11 of 14 free throw attempts against Emporia State  in the first meeting … he is averaging 8.8 points and 3.8 rebounds a game this season … he had a career-high eight assists against Fort Hays State.
•    Turon Parker is scoring 5.5 ppg this season adding 47 assists and 19 steals in his first season as an Ichabod … he had a season-high eight rebounds against Tabor.
•    Kevin House leads the team with 61 assists this season while adding 5.3 points and 1.9 rebounds per game … he is 50 of 59 from the free throw line this season for a team-high 85 percent and had a career-high 16 points against Northeastern State out on Feb. 14.
•    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 … he tied a career-high with four rebounds against FHSU last time out.
•    Korey Fisher has hit 28 of 87 3-pointers this season and has averaged 6.1 ppg this year … his is also 29 of 36 from the free throw line for an 81 percent average.
•    The Ichabods are 194 of 550 from 3-point range this season with Kyle Wiggins hitting a team-high 47 of 111 attempts for a 42 percent average … Alex North has hit 30 of 93 attempts and Andy Wilson has hit 29 of 77 attempts … Ichabod opponents are 229 of 598 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 10 games this season has averaged 4.0 points a game this season and he is averaging 4.0 rebounds per game in MIAA play … he had a career-high 13 points against Central Oklahoma hitting six field goals and had a career-high two steals against Emporia State in the second meeting.
•    Washburn is 422 of 622 from the free throw line for a 68 percent average while its opponents are 447 of 621 hitting 72 percent of their charity stripe attempts … in MIAA play the Ichabods have improved to 275 of 386 from the line for a 71 percent average while opponents are 267 of 371 in MIAA play for a 72 percent average.
•    Washburn is +2.2 in rebounding margin and have been outrebounded in 10 games this season.
•    The Ichabods have outscored their opponents 956 to 860 in the first half of games, but have been outscored 1133 to 1020 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 771-329 overall.
•     has 530 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 530.
•     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 450-85 going 399-74 in Lee Arena.
•     is second in all-time coaching victories in active NCAA Division II coaches.
•     his 771 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 basketball coach Kevin Muff
•    is in his fifth season leading the Gorillas. 
•    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.  
•    has gone 72-65 overall at Pitt State.
•    is 2-7 against Washburn.

 Last Time Out For The Ichabods
Washburn 79, Emporia State 54 • Feb. 21, 2015
TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods opened the first half shooting 60 percent from the field rolling to a 17-point halftime lead and never looked back in a 79-54 win over Emporia State splitting the regular season series. 
Washburn (14-15, 9-9 MIAA) hit 12 of 20 first half shots and held Emporia State (11-16, 4-14 MIAA) to 5 of 21 shooting in the opening half. With the Hornets holding a 7-6 lead with 15:51 to play the Ichabods ripped off a 22-5 run over the next 9:17 of the game jumping out to a 15 point lead at 27-12 capped by a dunk by Kyle Wiggins who led the Ichabods with 19 points on 6 of 9 shooting hitting 6 of 8 free throw attempts. Washburn would go on to take a 17-point lead into the break at 41-24.
The closest the Hornets would get in the second half would be 16 points at 49-33 with 14:20 to play in the game as Washburn cooled off to 52 percent in the second half hitting 15 of 29 shots in the half.
Following Wiggins' 19 points, Korey Fisher scored 10 points and Alex North had a game-high 11 rebounds adding seven points. Terrence Moore scored a game-high 21 points leading Emporia State.
Washburn finished 55 percent in the game from the field hitting 27 of 49 shots while the Hornets were limited to 15 of 43 shooting for a 35 percent average. Washburn also held a 36 to 23 advantage on the glass and outscored ESU 38 to 16 in the paint and 12 to 0 in fast break points. Washburn also scored 19 points off of 13 ESU turnovers 

  About Pittsburg State
•    Pittsburg State is 16-10, 12-6 in the MIAA after losing at Emporia State 74-67 last time out. 
•    They are led in scoring by Josiah Gustafson at 16.7 points per game to rank sixth in the MIAA. 
•    Pitt State is 5-6 in road games this season.
•    Overall the Gorillas average 72.0 ppg while allowing 67.1 ppg and they hold a +2.9 rebounding margin.
•    Devon Branch is averaging 14.8 ppg this season for the Gorillas. 

 Series History with PSU
•  Saturday's meeting will be the 176th 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 99-76.  
•  The Ichabods have won the last 12 of the last 14 meetings including five of the last six. 
•  The Ichabods are 29-2 in Lee Arena against PSU and 30-14 against the Gorillas in MIAA play. The home team is 30-8 in the last 38 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 25-30 in Pittsburg while going 9-11 in Pittsburg since becoming a member of the MIAA. 
•  Bob Chipman is 52-18 against Pittsburg State.  

 Last meeting with Pittsburg State
(Jan. 17, 2015) PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabod men's basketball team had its five-game winning streak snapped after being held to a season-low 40-points in a 82-40 loss to Pittsburg State. Washburn returns to the court on Thursday at Central Oklahoma.
The Ichabods never led in the game and after tying the score at 4-4, the Gorillas used a 21-9 run over the next 10:59 to jump out to a 25-13 lead as Pitt State would go on to lead by 15 at the break with a 38-13 lead. Washburn was held to 7 of 19 shooting in the first half while the Gorillas were 15 of 27 hitting 4 of 5 3-point attempts.
On the Ichabod side, the 40 points were the fewest scored by a Washburn team since moving to the NCAA Division II ranks since scoring 45 against Truman on Jan. 13, 2007 in a 60-45 loss. The 42-point losing margin was the largest by an Ichabod team during the same time frame since a 37-point loss at Missouri Southern in  a 110-73 loss to the lions on Dec. 7, 2013.
Kyle Wiggins led the Ichabods with 11 points as he was the only Washburn player to reach double figures. Alex North had a team-high four rebounds.
The Gorillas had four in double figures led by Josiah Gustafson's 23 points.
Washburn, who was outscored 44 to 17 in the second half finished the game 7 14 of 42 from the field and 2 of 14 from 3-point range going 0 of 9 from the 3-point area in the second half. The Gorillas were 32 of 55 overall for a 58 percent clip while outrebounding the Ichabods 40 to 19.

 Last time out for Pittsburg State
(Feb. 25, 2015) EMPORIA – Terrence Moore and Jay Temaat combined for 41 points to lead Emporia State University to a 74-67 victory over Pittsburg State University Wednesday (Feb. 25) at White Auditorium.
The Hornets (12-16, 5-14 MIAA) wrapped up regular season play, while the Gorillas (16-10, 12-6 MIAA) dropped their second straight contest heading into their regular season finale Saturday at Topeka against Washburn University.
Devon Branch led all scorers with 26 points on nine of 15 shooting, but the Hornets built a nine-point cushion midway through the second half and held off Pitt State's comeback bid down the stretch.
ESU shot 59.5 percent from the field (25 of 42) in the game – 68.4 percent in the second half (13 of 19).
The Gorillas converted 20 of 25 free throws in the contest. Javis Flynn and Trey Starks had eight points apiece for Pitt State.
Moore finished with a team-leading 24 points for the Hornets, while Temaat added 17. Jamal Taylor chipped in with 14 points.

  Ichabod basketball history
•     The Ichabods are 1481-999-4 (.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 530-245 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 399-74 (.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 first round of the MIAA Tournament will be on Monday, March 2 at a to be determined site.