By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 1-ranked Washburn University men's basketball team returns to the court for its first game in a week as the Ichabods travel to Warrensburg, Mo. to face Central Missouri on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Brett Ballard's No. 1-ranked Washburn Ichabods will put their 22-game winning streak on the line Saturday at Central Missouri. [File photo/TSN]Washburn is 22-0 overall and 12-0 in the MIAA this season, -one of two remaining undefeated teams in NCAA Division II along with Cal State East Bay after topping Nebraska-Kearney 89-67 last Saturday in Kearney.
The Mules are 17-7 this season and 8-4 in the MIAA and have won their last two games, including a 61-49 win at Fort Hays State last Saturday.
Washburn won the first meeting with the Mules 78-72 in double overtime on Dec. 13 in Lee Arena.
The Ichabods have the No. 1-ranked scoring offense in the MIAA, putting up 88.8 points per game.
Defensively, the Ichabods have the No. 2-ranked scoring defense in the MIAA, allowing 62.5 points per game.
The Ichabods are second in NCAA Division II in scoring margin at plus 27.9 points per game and are ranked second in field goal percentage at 51.7 percent and second in rebound margin at plus 11.5.
Washburn has not been out-rebounded in a game this season and has only been tied twice (Lubbock Christian and Emporia State).
Sophomore Dillon Claussen is ninth in the nation in field goal percentage at 63.2 percent and junior Jeremiah Jones leads the nation in total steals with 73 and is ranked third in steals per game at 3.32 per contest.
Claussen scored a career-high 27 points in Washburn's 89-67 win over Nebraska-Kearney last Saturday.
The Ichabods' 22-game winning streak is the longest in the nation, ahead of Cal St. East Bay's 20-game winning streak.
Freshman Lazerek Houston leads Central Missouri with a 21.0 point scoring average and he is fifth in the nation overall. He is also first in the nation in field goal attempts (381) and field goals made (178), fourth in total points (481) and fifth in assists with 121.
Jevon Hill is seventh in the nation in total 3-pointers made per game with 3.43 and first in total 3-pointers made with 79 overall.
Saturday's meeting will be the 116th between these two teams with Washburn leading the series 62-53.
Washburn is 19-31 in games played in Warrensburg.
The Ichabods have won 20 of the last 28 meetings with UCM, including 13 of the last 15 and 10 of the last 11, including the last four.
Washburn returns home next Thursday, hosting Arkansas-Fort Smith, and will host Northeastern State on Feb. 14.
