Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney and Washburn men's basketball teams will meet for the seventh time over the last three years Wednesday night in Topeka.

UNK's (5-10, 0-6) weird schedule this week has to do with Emporia State. Due to an arena issue, the Hornet/Loper game had to be moved from Saturday to Sunday afternoon. In turn, UNK's first game of the week was pushed from Thursday to Wednesday night, allowing the Lopers a chance to return home and prepare for the Hornets. Check the men's basketball schedule page for tip times and media links.

The Lopers and Ichabods (11-3, 4-1) have become familiar rivals of late, facing each other three times in each of the last two seasons. UNK went 3-0 vs. WU in 2016-17, ending the storied coaching career of Bob Chipman in the 2017 MIAA Tournament quarterfinals. The 'Bods got its revenge, and stopped a seven-game losing streak to the Lopers in the process, by winning all three match ups last winter. That included a 75-65 decision in the MIAA Tourney quarters, ending the careers of three UNK seniors.

This 'Bods squad is currently in a two-way tie for fourth place in the league standings and led by senior guard Javion Blake. The 2016 MIAA Freshman of the Year and a three-time honorable mention All-MIAA pick, Blake is at 20.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Ranked fourth in the MIAA in scoring, he is shooting 47% from the field and 72% from the line.

Having had to replace a large senior class including All-American post Brady Skeens, Washburn's only other double figure scorer is six-seven senior David Salach (12.4). As a team, WU is second in the MIAA in field goal pct. defense (42.4), third in rebounding margin (+6.0) and first in both assists (17.4) and blocks (4.1). Finally, the 'Bods lead the all-time series with UNK by a 25-17 margin.

Having suffered seven losses by a combined 33 points, UNK is looking for its first true road win of 2018-19. The Lopers currently rank second in the MIAA in blocks (3.7) and third in made threes allowed (116/7.7 per game).

A bright spot of late has come from the play of sophomore forwards Austin Luger (Alliance) and Weston Baker Magrath (Marshall, Minn.). Luger amassed 26 points and 14 rebounds last weekend vs. Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State while Baker Magrath tallied a career-high 18 points in the loss to the RiverHawks. He leads UNK in both blocks (13) and field goal percentage (59.2) and is second in offensive rebounds (20).

Emporia State (7-7, 2-3), which handed Kearney a 60-56 setback in early December, hosts Fort Hays State (11-4, 5-1) on Wednesday night.