Kearney, Neb. - A pair of former CSIC (Central States Intercollegiate Conference) rivals will take on the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team this weekend.

The Lopers (4-8, 1-3) host the MWSU Griffons Wednesday night at around 5:30 p.m. with the 13th-ranked WU Ichabods coming to town on Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. Multi-media links can be found on the schedule page.

From 1977-89, UNK was a member of the CSIC along with Western and Washburn. The Lopers haven't faced either squad since the 1988-89 season.

Coming off an upset win over a 10-win Northeastern State team, UNK currently is second in the MIAA in free throw shooting (77.2%) and third in 3-point percentage (39.8%).

Individually, reserve junior post Kendal Glidden (Dundy County Stratton H.S.) has been on fire the last six games, shooting 91.3% (21 of 23) from the floor to tally 49 points (8.6 avg.).

Fellow post Mike Dentlinger (Omaha) ranks in the MIAA top 15 in four categories, including field goal shooting (55.5%), with senior wing Jon Henderson (Salt Lake City, Utah) 10th in scoring (15.2) and fourth in 3-point percentage (45.9%).

The Griffons (5-7, 1-3) have dropped five of six and is coming off a 95-69 setback at Missouri Southern State. Picked 12th in the preseason poll, Western is 15th in the MIAA in scoring (67.7 ppg) but is sixth in scoring defense (66.1).

Making 64.5% of its free throws, the Griffons are led by 6-7, 230 lbs. junior forward Cedric Clinkscales. He is at 15.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while blocking 10 shots and shooting 62.8% from the floor, second best in the league.

No other Western player averages in double digits but four others have made at least 10 triples, led by Adarius Fulton (9.0 ppg) with 22. The Griffons rank fifth in the MIAA in threes made per game (7.3).

UNK leads the all-time series, 16-10.

Picked to win the MIAA, Washburn is third in the conference in both scoring offense (79.5) and scoring defense (62.0). They have an MIAA-best 15.9 scoring margin and also lead in turnover margin (+ 7.6) and steals (11.0).

Washburn was upset at Central Oklahoma, 72-67, last weekend and also fell to now 19th-ranked Newman (Kans.), 86-69.

A deep roster features 10 players averaging 10 minutes per game with 6-1 senior guard Will McNeill averaging an MIAA-high 19.9 points per game. To reach that total, he shots 46.5% from the field (no made threes) and is 73 of 90 (81.1%) at the line.

He also provides an MIAA-high 3.6 steals per game and is third on the team in rebounds (6.1). His backcourt mate is 6-0 senior Martin Mitchell (14.5 points, 3.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds pg), who leads the 'Bods with 16 made threes.

Six-eight, 220 lbs. senior Bobby Chipman, the son of Washburn's legendary head coach Bob Chipman, is at 9.0 points and a team-best 7.0 rebounds pg. The elder Chipman is in his 34th year and, including this season, has won 729 games.

The Lopers have a 17-12 series lead but Washburn has won five straight over UNK.

UNK hosts Central Missouri (8-3, 2-1) next Wednesday and then travels to Missouri Southern State (7-4, 2-1).