GLVC Release

INDIANAPOLIS - Prior to this past weekend, redshirt-senior forward, Zach Fischer, had never started a game in his career. After two starts accompanied by wins against Trevecca Nazarene on Saturday and Cedarville on Sunday, Fischer is the Great Lakes Valley Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week, as announced by the league on Monday morning.

"Zach had a great weekend," said head coach, Chris Foster. "The fact that he made his first career start as a senior is a testament to all of his hard work and perseverance throughout his career. He is the emotional leader of our team and it was great to see him help us get off to a great start last weekend in St. Louis. His leadership will continue to be very important to our team as the season goes on."

Fischer averaged a double-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 77.8 percent (14-for-18) from the field and 80 percent (4-of-5) from behind the arc. The St. Louis native and Christian Brothers College High School product becomes the third Bulldog to receive the honor dating back to the beginning of last season (Cory Myers on Jan. 22 and Connor Erickson on Feb. 20).

Fischer's first career start back in his hometown resulted in his second career double-double with 24 points, 11 rebounds, four steals, two assists, and a block. Against Trevecca Nazarene, the 6-4 forward set new career highs for points, boards, steals, field goals made (10), and field goals attempted (12) in 33 minutes of action. The big man then followed that up with a near double-double thanks to 16 points, nine rebounds, two dimes, and a takeaway in 26 minutes on the court vs. Cedarville.

Since joining the GLVC prior to the 2013-14 campaign, Truman has received Player of the Week honors a total of eight times for six different players. Fischer is the third of those six that's listed as a forward to gain the recognition and he is joined by Erickson and Mike Carlson (Feb. 20, 2017 and March 3, 2014).

Truman's tough stretch of five games in eight days to begin the season will continue with the home opener on Wednesday vs. Lindenwood inside Pershing Arena beginning at 7 p.m. Then, the Bulldogs will compete in a tournament hosted by defending National Champions and current No. 1, Northwest Missouri State. There, the Purple and White will face Upper Iowa on Saturday (5 p.m.) and the Bearcats on Sunday (3 p.m.).

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