Lincoln to take on Washburn in MIAA basketball doubleheader

Lincoln men's basketball coach John Moseley draws out a play on a white board before the start of Saturday's game against Central Oklahoma at Jason Gym. Moseley and the Blue Tigers will play tonight at Washburn.
Lincoln men's basketball coach John Moseley draws out a play on a white board before the start of Saturday's game against Central Oklahoma at Jason Gym. Moseley and the Blue Tigers will play tonight at Washburn.

The Lincoln men's and women's basketball teams are preparing for their second-to-last road trip of the season.

The Blue Tigers play an MIAA doubleheader tonight against the Washburn Ichabods in Topeka, Kan. The women's game tips at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's game around 7:30 p.m.

After this weekend's road trip, Lincoln will play six of its final eight games of the regular season at Jason Gym.

The Lincoln men have won nine of their last 11 games, winning 78-65 last Saturday against Central Oklahoma in their last appearance on the court. The Blue Tigers enter the game with a 13-5 record and are 6-3 in the MIAA.

Washburn (14-4, 7-2 MIAA) received votes in this week's NABC Division II Top 25 poll. The Ichabods are second in the MIAA standings after picking up a 92-82 win Saturday at Pittsburg State.

Javion Blake, a 6-foot-3 senior guard, leads the Ichabods with 19.2 points per game, which ranks eighth in the conference. He was an All-MIAA honorable mention selection last season.

David Salach, a 6-7 senior forward, also averages double figures in scoring at 13.1 per game. He is second on the team with 5.8 rebounds per contest.

Lincoln enters tonight's game with all five starters averaging double figures in points. Terrance Smith leads the way with 16.5 points per game.

Jonell Burton (13.8), Amariontez Ivory (12.8), Ni'Sean Rigmaiden (12.7) and Grant Olsson (10.1) are also averaging points in double figures. The five starters accounting for 84.1 percent of Lincoln's scoring.

Smith leads the Blue Tigers with 6.6 rebounds per game and Rigmaiden has a team-best 4.8 assists per game.

Like their men's team, the Washburn women enter tonight's game as the No. 2 team in the MIAA standings.

Washburn (13-5, 8-1 MIAA) won back-to-back games on the road last week, finishing with a 70-66 victory against Pittsburg State.

The Ichabods have a balanced scoring attack this season, led by 5-6 junior guard Reagan Phelan with 11.1 points per game. Taylor Blue is next with 11.0 points per game and Hunter Bentley averages 10.6 points per contest.

Blue, a 5-10 senior forward, leads Washburn with 5.4 rebounds per game. Phelan averages 4.7 assists per game.

Washburn holds opponents to 58.4 points per game, ranking second in the MIAA in scoring defense.

Lincoln (9-9, 1-8 MIAA) is coming off a 68-56 loss Saturday at home against Central Oklahoma. The Blue Tigers are looking for their first win of 2019 and are trying to snap a seven-game losing skid.

Zhanesha Dickerson leads the Blue Tigers with 15.9 points per game, while Zoi Thompson is averaging 14.5 points per game. Bre Coleman is also averaging double figures in scoring at 13.1 per game and leads Lincoln with 8.3 rebounds per contest.

Lincoln and Washburn will meet again Feb. 23 in Jefferson City.