Opening Tip
•   Washburn will wrap up the regular season on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Lee Arena when they will play host to Northeastern State. Between the two men's team seniors Colton Anderson and Jeremy Lickteig along with six women's seniors, will be recognized and the on-court presentation for the naming ceremony for "Bob Chipman Court" will take place as well following the senior introductions.
•   Washburn improved to 18-9 and 10-8 in the MIAA after sweeping the regular season series with Central Oklahoma in an 81-70 win on Thursday.
•   The RiverHawks knocked off Emporia State last time out 69-65 to move to 5-21 overall and 4-14 in the MIAA.
•   The Ichabods are tied for sixth in the MIAA standings with Central Oklahoma at 10-8. Missouri Southern and Fort Hays State's regular season is over at 11-8. With a win on Saturday, the Ichabods will guarantee themselves a first round MIAA Tournament game on Monday night in Topeka.
•   Washburn won the first meeting this season over Northeastern State on Jan. 12 in a 67-55 win giving Ichabod head coach Bob Chipman his 799th career win.
•   The Ichabods trail the all-time series with Northeastern State 7-3 and have gone 1-4 in games played in Tahlequah snapping the four-game skid in the first game this season.
•   Washburn is 2-2 in games against Northeastern State in Topeka including a 70-67 win over the Ichabods in the last meeting in Topeka on Feb. 17, 2016.
•   Teams who finish five through eight in the final standings host a first-round MIAA Tournament game on Feb. 27.
•   The Ichabods are fifth in the nation in blocks at 5.5 per game and third in total blocks at 148 and Brady Skeens is fourth in the nation with 3.4 blocks per game and fourth in total blocks with 88.
•   This season will be Bob Chipman's last season on the bench at Washburn … Chipman announced prior to the start of the season this year would be his last … Chipman has a career-record of 806-352 at Washburn and became only the 17th coach to reach that milestone in the win against Central Oklahoma … he tied Eddie Sutton on the career wins list with his 806th victory against Central Oklahoma on Feb. 23.
•   In Washburn's 18 wins this season, the Ichabods are shooting 52 percent from the field and holding opponents to 38 percent … in the nine losses Washburn is shooting 45 percent while opponents are shooting 46 percent from the field … opponents have hit 32 more 3-pointers than the Ichabods this season in Washburn's nine losses (92 to 58) and are outshooting Washburn 44 percent to 33 percent from deep.
•   In the nine losses opponents are averaging 10.2 made 3-pointers per game and Washburn is hitting 6.4 3-pointers per game.
•   In the nine losses, opponents have attempted 36 more free throws (228 to 192) and have made 53 more free throws (182 to 129).
•   Brady Skeens leads the Ichabods in scoring and is ranked 11th in the MIAA in scoring at 14.0 ppg and Cameron Wiggins is 23rd at 12.1 ppg … Javion Blake is 24th at 12.0 ppg.
•   Brady Skeens leads the league in rebounding at 11.0 rpg, field goal percentage at 66.9 percent (160 of 239) and blocks at 3.4 per game … he is also eighth in assists with 3.2 per game and 14th in minutes at 32.1 per game … Skeens is ranked fourth in the nation in field goal percentage, fourth in blocked shots and fourth in total blocks.
•   Randall Smith's 3.5 assists per game is seventh in the MIAA and Javion Blake is ranked 16th at 2.8 per game.
•   Brady Skeens' 164 career blocks are the most in school history after passing Ewan Auguste (100) on the all-time chart against Newman … he has broke his own school record of 61 set last season as a sophomore … this season he has 91 so far in 27 games.
•   Brady Skeens went over the 700-point mark for his career against UCO last time out …Javion Blake needs two points for 700 and Cameron Wiggins needs six.
•   Brady Skeens needs one more rebound to reach 600 for his career.
 
Single Season Washburn Record Watch
Name                       Record                                  Current Stats             Record Name/Stats
Brady Skeens      FG Percentage            .669 (160-239)      Tom Meier (.670 - 276-412)
Brady Skeens      Blocks                       91 total                Old record - Skeens (61)
Brady Skeens      Block Average             3.4                      Skeens (2.2)
 
Single Season Washburn Record Watch By Class
Name                       Record (Class)                   Current Stats             Record Name/Stats
Brady Skeens      Blocks (Jr.)                 91 total                Old record - Dan Buie (50)
Brady Skeens      FG Percentage (Jr.)      .669 (160-239)      Tom Meier (.670 - 276-412)
Brady Skeens      Total Rebounds (Jr.)    298                     Dan Buie (304)
Brady Skeens      Rebound Average (Jr.) 11.0            Gregg Gibb (11.5)
 
Single Season Washburn Team Record Watch
Record                Current Stats            Record Name/Stats
Blocks           148                     125 (2003-04)
Block average  5.4                     3.9 (2003-04/2004-05)
 
Ichabods on Radio
Washburn games will be broadcast on KTPK 106.9 FM radio with Jake Lebahn and Dan Lucero calling the action. 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 38th and final season at the helm of the Ichabods.
•   a 1973 graduate of Kansas State earning both his undergraduate and master's degree in Manhattan.
•   is 806-352 overall.
•   has 567 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 567.
•   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 471-96 going 420-85 in Lee Arena.
•   is third in all-time coaching victories in active NCAA Division II coaches.
•   his 806 coaching wins is 17th 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.
 
Northeastern State head coach Jason Tinsley
•   is 20-59 in his second year at Northeastern State and 183-211 in his 14th as a four year men's coach.
•   is 3-2 against Washburn.
•   was the head women's basketball coach from 2010-14 at NCAA Division III Louisiana College in Pineville, La., where he led the program to an 89-25 record and three berths in the NCAA Division III Championship tournament. 
 
Last Time Out For The Ichabods
Washburn 81, Central Oklahoma -- Feb. 23, 2017
TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabod basketball team won its third game in a row improving to 18-9 overall and 10-8 in the MIAA after sweeping the regular season series with Central Oklahoma in an 81-70 win over the Bronchos.
Washburn trailed by two early and with the score at 10-9 with UCO (15-11, 10-8 MIAA) leading, Washburn scored 10-straight points opening a 19-10 lead with 11:26 to play in the first half. Twice in the opening frame from that point on, UCO would get within five, but Washburn outscored the Bronchos 16-11 the remaining 9:52 of the half taking a 35-25 lead into the locker room at the break.
The Ichabods held the Bronchos to 27 percent shooting in the first half as UCO was 7 of 26 from the field, While Washburn was 11 of 25 overall and 10 of 14 from the free throw line.
In the second half, UCO cut the lead to nine at 49-40 with 14:48 to play and again at 65-56 with 7:47 to play and at 68-58 with 5:57 to play, but would not get any closer as the Ichabods used an 8-0 run to push the lead to 17 at 76-59 with 4:41 to play and to as many as 18 in the game leading to win No. 806 for Ichabod head coach Bob Chipman, who tied Eddie Sutton on the NCAA all-time win chart. Chipman's 800th win came against UCO in the first meeting on Jan. 14 in Edmond in a 74-69 win.
 
Brady Skeens and Javion Blake led five Ichabods in double figures with each scoring 16 points. Skeens added 12 rebounds for his 22nd career double double and 12th of the season adding three blocks going 6 of 8 from the field. Blake recorded a career-high eight rebounds in the win.  Also in double figures was David Salach with 12, Randall Smith with 11 and Isaac Clark with 10.
Marquis Johnson led UCO with 17 points.
Washburn dominated the glass 41 to 30 over UCO and finished 26 of 50 from the field while holding UCO to 42 percent overall at 24 of 57 in a game which saw seven early lead changes and a combined 42 fouls called leading to 52 free throws with Washburn finishing 20 of 30 from the line compared to UCO's 15 of 22 from the line.
 
About Northeastern State
•   The RiverHawks are 5-21 this season and 4-14 in the MIAA and need a win over the Ichabods to guarantee a MIAA Tournament berth.
•   Montre' Williams leads the team with a 12.8 ppg averaging scoring 11.9 ppg in MIAA play … he is shooting 38 percent from 3-point range hitting 49 of 127 attempts.
•   Cameron Martin is scoring 9.2 ppg and Braxton Williams leads the team with 4.2 rebounds per game scoring 5.5 ppg.
•   The RiverHawks are shooting 40 percent from the field and 34 percent from 3-point range.
•   NSU is 14th in the MIAA in scoring offense averaging 63.3 ppg and 10th in scoring defense allowing 73.4 ppg.
•   NSU is last in the league in field goal percentage (.403) and ninth in field goal percentage defense (.469).          
 
Series History with Northeastern State
•   Saturday's meeting will be the 11th all-time between the two schools and the RiverHawks lead the all-time series 7-3.
•   The RiverHawks won the first meeting on Jan. 24 in Tahlequah 80-73.
•   The teams split the regular season games in 2013-14 and the RiverHawks won 79-75 in a first round MIAA Tournament game in Topeka on March 4, 2014.
•   The Ichabods and RiverHawks played in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with Washburn falling 64-59 on March 15, 2003 in Stephenville, Texas.
•   The RiverHawks went on to win the NCAA National Championship in 2003.
•   Washburn is 1-3 in games played in Tahlequah falling 85-78 on Jan. 19, 2013 and 69-58 on Feb. 15, 2014 and 75-65 on Jan. 7, 2016 winning for the first time on Jan. 12 in a 67-55 win. 
 
Last Meeting with Northeastern State
Washburn 67, Northeasten State 55 -- Jan. 12, 2017
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- The Washburn Ichabods snapped a two-game losing streak overall and won for the first time in school history in Tahlequah snapping a four-game losing streak in a 67-55 win over Northeastern State on Thursday night as Ichabod head coach Bob Chipman picked up career win No. 799.
With the RiverHawks holding a 6-5 lead, the Ichabods scored 10 straight points to go up 15-6 and stretched the lead to as many as 13 in the first half as Washburn took a 28-15 lead into the break after holding the RiverHawks to 5 of 32 shooting in the first half and 2 of 11 from 3-point range. Washburn was 5 of 11 from deep and 9 of 22 overall and held a 27 to 18 advantage on the glass.
Cooper Holmes recorded seven rebounds in the first half with four coming on the offensive side. Isaac Clark scored nine to lead Washburn and Javion Blake added seven in the opening half.
An 8-0 midway through the second half by the RiverHawks cut the Ichabod lead to nine at 41-32, but back to back layups by Brady Skeens and Salach along with a jumper by Salach pushed the margin back to 15 with 11:15 to play.
From that point on, the RiverHawks would not get closer than 12 points, but a 3-pointer from Blake from the corner stretched the lead back to 13 with 5:30 to go in the game. Another three from Blake as the shot clock was expiring stretched the lead back to 15 with 3:50 to go.
The RiverHawks would not get closer than 12 the rest of the way as the Ichabods won the first time in Tahlequah snapping a four-game losing streak.
Blake led the Ichabods with 20 points going 5 of 9 from 3-point range adding three rebounds. Salach scored 12 points with seven rebounds. Skeens recorded his 17th double double and seventh of the season with 11 points and 14 rebounds picking up five blocks in the process.
Washburn finished 21 of 48 from the field hitting 9 of 19 shots from deep. Washburn also outrebounded the RiverHawks 45 to 31. Washburn held the RiverHawks to 30 percent shooting from field as they finished 17 of 57 overall.
 
Last Time Out For Northeastern State
Northeastern State 69, Emporia State 65 -- Feb. 23, 2017
EMPORIA, Kan. – Northeastern State picked up a must-win game on Thursday night besting Emporia State 69-65 behind a team effort and now sits with one game lead for the final postseason spot in the MIAA Tournament.
The RiverHawks led as many as 17-points in the first half and a 12-0 Emporia State run into halftime to gave NSU a 36-31 lead in the locker room.   Emporia State dug out of the hole and spun around to lead 54-48 with 7:42 left in the contest.   However, Northeastern State halted the Hornets who were limited to three buckets in the next six minutes.   Senior Karon Waller carried the RiverHawks to the finish scoring the team's final 12 points and icing the game with 11 made free-throws.
With Missouri Western losing to Lincoln they fell into a tie with Pittsburg State with matching 3-15 MIAA records.   Northeastern State with a win on Saturday over Washburn would secure the postseason berth regardless of the outcomes of Missouri Western and Pittsburg State.   A loss on Saturday and win by Missouri Western would still put NSU into the tournament by virtue of winning the head-to-head matchup.  However, a Pittsburg State win at Central Missouri and a NSU loss would knock the RiverHawks out of the tournament.
Waller led NSU with a career high 19-points, Tanner Mouse added 12, and Montre' Williams chipped in 11.   Northeastern State shot 45.8-percent (22-48) from the field besting ESU's 40.4-percent (21-52).
In the rebounding battle, the Hornets grabbed 37, which was 11 more than the RiverHawks.  Trent Cantrell led NSU with six off the glass.
Emporia State (13-14, 9-9 MIAA) dropped only their third home contest in 12 games this season and they were led by Tyler Jordan who had 14 points.
 
 Ichabod basketball history
•   The Ichabods are 1,538-1,058-2 (.592) all-time in the 112th year in the program's history.
•   Washburn is the fifth-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 566-266 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 420-85 (.848) all-time in Lee Arena.
•   The 2016-17 season marks the 32nd 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 have a game on Monday night in the first round of the MIAA Tournament. Seedings will be announced after the final games are played on Saturday. Be sure to check wusports.com for opponent and location information.