By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Ichabods will be on the road this week with a two-game trip through the Show-Me State, beginning with a Wednesday night game at Central Missouri in Warrensburg.
Washburn (9-4 overall, 5-2 MIAA) has won its last four games, including a 92-83 win over Newman on last Saturday. The Mules (6-6, 1-5) are coming off a 76-73 win at Nebraska-Kearney last time out, rallying from a 16-point deficit just before halftime.
The Ichabods received votes in the latest NABC Top 25 Coaches Poll.
The Ichabods lead the all-time series with Central Missouri 58-52, winning the last seven games in the series and nine of the last 10 overall. WU has won the last three games played in Warrensburg.
During Washburn's four-game winning streak, the Ichabods have averaged 83.5 points while allowing 69.0 points per game.
Freshman Jack Bachelor, a Washburn Rural product, has led the Ichabods in scoring during the streak, averaging 17.5 points.
Sophomore Sam Ungashick leads Washburn with a 15.5 scoring average while also averaging 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Ungashick ranks fifth in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage, hitting 31 of 62 attempts.
Junior Andrew Orr is scoring 13.3 points per game this season while going 37 of 40 from the free throw line, which ranks 13th in the nation in percentage at 92.5. Orr is shooting 55 percent from the field hitting, 68 of 124 attempts. He scored 21 points in 22 minutes against Newman last time out.
Bachelor is scoring 12.1 points and tied for the team lead with 42 assists. Bachelor has reached double figure in six straight games and is 7 of 12 from 3-point range in his last three games.
The Ichabods are fourth in the nation in 3-point shooting at 42.3 percent, hitting 112 of 265 attempts. Washburn is second in the MIAA in 3-pointers made per game at 8.6.
WU is first in the MIAA in scoring, averaging 82.1 points and ranks eighth in scoring defense, allowing 70.9 points per game.
Caleb Neo leads the Mules in scoring with a 13.8 average and is shooting 35 percent from 3-point range, hitting 31 of 89 attempts.
Also averaging double figures are Jalen Knott (12.0), Keith Kiner III (11.9) and Tim Jordan, Jr. (10.2).
Washburn will return to Missouri to face Lincoln in Jefferson City on Saturday before hosting Missouri Southern on Jan. 17 and Pittsburg State on Jan. 20.