By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 2-ranked Washburn University men will play their final MIAA game of the 2025 calendar year on Saturday when the Ichabods host Central Missouri at 3 p.m. in Lee Arena.
Sophomore Dillon Claussen is averaging 16.9 points and 6.7 rebounds for No. 2-ranked Washburn men's basketball. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn moved to 10-0 overall and 2-0 in the MIAA with a 73-66 win over Fort Hays State last Saturday while Central Missouri enters the game 9-2 overall and 2-0 in league play after a 99-69 win over Nebraska-Kearney. The Mules defeated Fort Hays State 64-50 in their MIAA opener.
Washburn leads the all-time series 61-53 and Saturday's meeting will be the 115th between the two schools. The Ichabods have won the last three in the series and nine of the last 10.
The Ichabods lead the NCAA Division II ranks in scoring margin at plus 33.7 points per game and are fourth in field goal percentage at 52.7 percent. Washburn is third in rebound margin at plus 14.3 and second in scoring defense (59.6 points per game). Washburn has not been out-rebounded in a game.
WU junior Jack Bachelor is sixth in the nation in total assists with 52 and 14th in the nation in 3-pointers made with 27 and sophomore Dillon Claussen is third in the nation in field goal percentage at 72.3 percent and junior Jeremiah Jones is third in the nation in total steals with 30 and is ranked 10th in steals per game at 3.0 per contest.
The Ichabods' 10-game winning streak is tied for the second-longest in the nation with Daemen. The longest streak belongs to Nova Southeastern, which has won its last 29 games.
Washburn has won 21 home games in a row, the second-longest streak in the nation and the sixth-longest streak in Washburn program history. Nova Southeastern has won its last 91 games in a row at home.
Junior Bryson Smith finished with a Washburn-high 22 points against Fort Hays State while going 9-of-10 at the free throw line. He added five rebounds, one assist and four steals, scoring 18 of his 22 points in the second half.
Claussen scored 21 points against Fort Hays State on 7 of 10 shooting and knocking down 7 of 8 free throws while grabbing six rebounds.
Freshman Lazerek Houston leads Central Missouri team in scoring at 19.5 points per game, ranking fifth in the nation overall. Houston is fourth in assists, averaging 5.2 per contest.
Jevon Hill lead the nation in total 3-pointers with 39 overall and he is 14th in 3-pointers per game at 3.55 while averaging 15.1 points. Kyran Tilley is averaging 13.5 points.
The Ichabods will step out of MIAA play for the annual River City Holiday Classic in San Antonio, facing No. 4-ranked Lubbock Christian on Tuesday and wrap up the 2025 calendar year with No. 8 ranked West Texas A&M the following day.
Washburn returns to MIAA play on Jan. 3, hosting Emporia State.
