LAKELAND, Fla. – For the second-consecutive year, the Washburn Ichabod men's basketball team will open the season at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic Nov. 7-8 in Lakeland, Fla.

Washburn will open the two-game classic, facing Point Loma Nazarene at 8 p.m. on Nov. 7 followed by West Liberty the following day at 8 p.m. as well. Point Loma Nazarene was 27-6 last season and 18-4 in league play, falling in the West Regional Championship game, earning a No. 19 ranking in the final NABC/Division II Coaches Poll. West Liberty finished the 2025-26 season 27-5, going 18-2 in conference play and were knocked off in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and ranked No. 7 in the final poll before the NCAA Tournament.

Point Loma is making its second appearance at the SCB Hall of Fame Classic last appearing in 2024 and West Liberty will be making its first appearance.

"We had a great experience in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic last season, and we're looking forward to competing in it again this year," Ichabod head coach Brett Ballard said. "It brings together some of the best teams in the country, which makes it a tremendous early-season challenge. It's a great opportunity to learn about our team, and we're excited and very appreciative to be a part of it."

The Ichabods are coming off a 2025-26 season that saw Washburn win both the MIAA regular season and tournament championships finishing ranked No. 3 in the final NABC rankings with a 31-2 record after replacing four starters from the 2024-25 NCAA Final Four squad. The Ichabods finished the MIAA slate with an 18-1 record winning the league title by four games and the Ichabods also spent the entire season inside the top five of the NABC top 25 coaches poll including seven weeks at No. 1 in the rankings.

Last season at the SCB Hall of Fame Classic, the Ichabods defeated Augusta 101-53 and followed that with an 89-77 win over then No. 3-ranked Dallas Baptist.

2026 SCB Hall of Fame Classic Schedule
Jenkins Fieldhouse, Lakeland, FL
Saturday, November 7
11:00.    ??Central Missouri vs. Gannon
1:15??       Oklahoma Baptist vs. Cal State East Bay
3:30??       Lander vs. Black Hills State
5:45??       Florida Southern vs. West Liberty
8:00??       Washburn vs. Point Loma Nazarene
 
Sunday, November 8
11:00??     Oklahoma Baptist vs. Lander 
1:15??       Cal State East Bay vs. Central Missouri
3:30??       Gannon vs. Point Loma Nazarene
5:45??       Florida Southern vs. Black Hills State
8:00??       Washburn vs. West Liberty