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KIRKSVILLE - - A short turnaround awaits the Truman men's basketball team for its third MIAA game of the season, as the Bulldogs head back on the road for a Tuesday (Dec. 7) contest at Southwest Baptist (Mo.) in Bolivar. Tipoff from John Q. Hammons Court will be at 7:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs (2-4, 0-2 MIAA) are coming off a 91-68 loss at Pittsburg (Kan.) State on Saturday afternoon, its third straight loss and second straight to open the MIAA slate. Truman will look to control its miscues – a point of emphasis from head coach Jack Schrader following the PSU loss – against SBU, who has forced their opponents into an average of 20 turnovers per game so far this year.
The Bearcats (5-3, 2-0 MIAA), meanwhile come into Tuesday night's game on a five-game winning streak, including MIAA week one wins against No. 12 Central Missouri (96-78) and Lincoln (93-81). SBU has averaged 98.4 points per game during its current streak of wins and are hitting nearly 14 three-pointers per game all year.
Tuesday night will mark the 44th meeting in the all-time series between the Bulldogs and Bearcats, with SBU holding a 26-17 edge. SBU has won the last five games against Truman, but the Bulldogs have been able to hold the Bearcats below their season scoring average each time.
Under head coach Jack Schrader (since 1995), the Bulldogs are 11-17 against Southwest Baptist and have gone 4-10 in Bolivar. The last win for the Bulldogs at SBU came in the 2006-2007 season – an 81-68 win on Jan. 20, 2007.
The Bulldogs are led offensively by senior guard Alex Henderson (16.2 ppg), who continues to be a model of efficiency by having reached double-figured in each of Truman's six games this year. Fellow senior Ethan Freeman (10.8 ppg, 9.0 rpg) is just shy of a double-double average, and sophomore Tom Norton sits just outside of a double-figure average at 9.7 points per outing.
Schrader has been running a variety of combinations on the court, as only four players average more than 20 minutes per game and only six are above the 15 minute per game mark.
Media Information:
104.7 FM KRES is the official radio home of Truman football, men's basketball and women's basketball. Brad Boyer and Hank Janssen will provide coverage throughout the season of Truman basketball on the Moberly-based station.
KRES broadcasts its sports coverage online at centralmoinfo.com. Fans can also watch MIAA games on their computer this season through AmericaOne/B2 Networks for a fee.
Live stats for all Bulldog games throughout the season will be made available via links on the men's basketball schedule page at TrumanBulldogs.com.
About the 'Dogs:
· The Bulldogs are scoring 74.0 points per game through their first four games, while allowing opponents 72.5 points per game for a +1.5 margin. That margin has taken a hit since the start of conference play, with Truman at -20.0 through two MIAA games.
· Senior Alex Henderson is having a hot start to the season, leading the team at 16.2 points/game and ranking third in rebounds at 4.5/game. He is shooting 50% from the field and a blistering 59% (16-for-27) from long-distance. Henderson has scored 10+ points in all six games this season.
· Senior Ethan Freeman is averaging just shy of a double-double with 10.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. He tied a career-high with 17 rebounds at QU on Nov. 27 and set a new career-best with 23 points against MSSU on Dec. 1.
· Having never shot better than 61% in a season from the foul line, Freeman has improved markedly this year by going 21-for-26 (81%) from the stripe through five games.
· Sophomore guard Tom Norton is also near double-figures through five games, coming in at 9.7 points/game. He has dropped 13 three-pointers in 35 attempts and is 13-for-15 from the foul line. He is a career 93.2% foul shooter.
· Junior Vesko Filchev has dominated the paint defensively this year, swatting seven shots to lead the 'Dogs and pulling down 4.7 rebounds/game.
· The Truman bench has contributed significantly to the usual starting five, averaging 28.0 points per game. Led by freshmen Isaac Gardner (7.5 ppg, 13 3-pointers) and Pat Sodemann (5.2 ppg), the bench unit is scoring nearly 40% of Truman's points.
· Head coach Jack Schrader has used the same starting lineup for all six games, going with three seniors (Henderson, Freeman, Stefan Garrison), Filchev and Norton.
· The Bulldogs have struggled maintaining possession this year, committing nearly 18 turnovers per game. On the flip side, Truman is forcing just 13 miscues per game from its opponents.
A Look at the Bearcats:
After losing its first three games of the season, SBU has rebounded to win five straight and sit tied for first in the MIAA at 2-0. As per usual, the Bearcats exhibit one of the league's most prolific offenses, averaging 88 points per game and nearly 14 three-pointers per outing. 109 of the team's 251 field goals (43%) have been from long-range, and the squad is 37% at shooting them.
Ryan Dougherty is the leader from range, having hit 21 three's on the way to a 15.1 points per game average. Tomas Brock is at 14.4 ppg and nearly five assists per game, while Kurt Koenig is the other Bearcat in double-figures at 11.1 ppg.
The Bearcats opened MIAA play with a 96-78 win against then-No. 12 Central Missouri and backed it up with a 93-81 win at Lincoln on Saturday. SBU has played a challenging slate this year, putting six Div. II opponents – all regional – on their schedule.
Jeff Guiot is in his seventh season at SBU and has compiled a 132-57 record with the program. He is in his 16th season as a collegiate head coach and is 330-139.
Inside and Out:
The Bulldogs have handled both the three-point line and the glass this season, hitting 55 three-pointers and allowing just 26, while also out-rebounding opponents by six (37.7 to 31.7) per game.
Up Next:
The Bulldogs return to Pershing Arena for its last two games prior to Christmas, starting on Saturday (Dec. 11) at 3:00 p.m. against Washburn (Kan.) University.
