Men's Basketball Notes: vs. Washburn

Washburn (14-6, 8-4 MIAA) @ TRUMAN (6-14, 4-9 MIAA)

Wednesday, Feb. 1; 7:30 pm
Pershing Arena; Kirksville, Mo.

Audio: 104.7 FM – KRES (Moberly, Mo.); Also streamed online at CentralMOInfo.com
Video: http://www.b2livetv.com/partner_members.asp?id=295
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/truman/mbball/index.htm

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Game Preview:
Coming off a 77-70 overtime win on Saturday afternoon, the Truman men will set out to make it two in a row against Kansas foes when it hosts Washburn University on Wednesday night at 7:30 pm in Pershing Arena.

The Bulldogs (6-14, 4-9 MIAA) notched an overtime victory against Emporia State on Saturday, marking the second straight time Truman snapped a skid with an overtime win. Washburn, meanwhile, comes to Kirksville having picked up a 64-55 victory at Missouri Western on Saturday afternoon after coming off a 70-63 home loss to Northwest Missouri. The Ichabods (14-6, 8-4 MIAA) have been nearly untouchable at home this season but are just 7-5 in games not played in Topeka.

Truman's win against ESU on Saturday pulled the purple and white into an 8^th-place tie with the Hornets for 8^th in the MIAA standings with seven games to play. The Bulldogs sit a half-game ahead of Lincoln (3-9) and two games back of Southwest Baptist (6-7) – Saturday's opponent – for 7^th place.

Washburn enters Saturday all alone in third place in the MIAA, a half-game ahead of both Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern but one and a half games back of both league leaders Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri. The Ichabods have already had their second-half “bye” that puts them with one fewer game played in the league schedule than the majority of the conference.

Earlier this season, the Bulldogs never led in falling behind by a dozen at the break before losing 67-54 in Topeka on Dec. 10. Truman put four players in double-figures, led by Tom Norton's 12 and Mike Carlson's 11, but Truman shot just 34% from the field and got out-rebounded 43-30 (14-7 offensive) in the contest.

Washburn leads the all-time series 39-17 and has picked up wins in nine of the last 10 meetings. Truman's last win came last season in an 83-78 home win on Dec. 11, 2010.

A Fast Check of the Regulars:
·       Freshman Seth Jackson, at 12.3 ppg overall, is the team's leading scorer both overall and in MIAA (13.5) games. He is also third on the squad in rebounding at 4.4/game (5.2 in MIAA-only) and is 76-for-107 (71%) from the line with three 20+-point games.
·       Junior Tom Norton ranks second on the squad at 11.5 points per game as one of three players in double-figures. He has made 50 triples this season and is 49-for-58 (85%) from the free throw line.
·       Redshirt freshman Mike Carlson is averaging 10.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He has started all 20 games and leads the squad with 14 blocks.
·       Junior transfer EJ Hicks is averaging 9.3 ppg and is the team's assist leader (53).
·       Sophomore Isaac Gardner has made 42 triples and is averaging 8.2 points per game.
·       Freshman Andrew Vander Zwaag has played in all but two games this season, averaging 4.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. He is fourth on the squad with 16 triples.
·       Freshman Patrick Burmester has started 13 games and is averaging 4.4 ppg and 4.1 rpg. He also has 12 blocks and is shooting 51% from the floor.
·       Sophomore Marek Bush has played in all but one game and is the team-leader on the offensive glass (33). He ranks second on the team in rebounds (4.6/gm) and is shooting 52% from the field.
·       Freshman Tyler Anderson has earned five starts and is averaging 3.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He has averaged one point and rebound more per game in MIAA play.
·       Senior Vesko Filchev has played in 12 games overall, averaging 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per game. He is shooting 59% from the floor.

Bulldog Tip-Ins:
·       The Bulldogs are 6-14 (4-9 MIAA) in 2011-12 after going 7-19 (5-17) last year.
·       Truman is shooting 42.4% from the field as a team, including a 34.4% (136-for-395) mark from three-point range.
·       The 'Dogs are getting to the free throw line more than 23 times per game, connecting at a 67.4% (312-for-463) mark on the year.
·       Against ESU on Jan. 28, the Bulldogs hit 34 free throws (5^th most in school history; most since 1/18/88 vs. QU; 36) and took 48 attempts (4^th most in school history; most since 2/22/97 vs. Lincoln; 49).
·       The Bulldogs have had six different players lead them in scoring this season, led by Jackson's team-high eight times.
·       Truman has had eight 20-point scoring outings this season, led by Tom Norton's 29 against Missouri Southern, his 27 at Grand View and Seth Jackson's 25 against Central Christian. The guards are the only players to surpass 20 points in a game at least twice.
·       Of 100 total starts in the 20 games this season, 58 (58%) have been made by freshmen and 72 (72%) have been made by newcomers overall (Hicks + freshmen).

Career Check:
·       Tom Norton has hit 179 career three-pointers, putting him 6^th all-time at Truman. He trails Andy Guethle (1996-2000; 186) for 5^th.
·       Norton's career FT percentage of .867 is currently the program-best, leading both Scott Matthews (1993-94) and Mike Peterson (1987-89) who are currently at the top (.848).
·       Vesko Filchev's 78 career blocks puts him 4^th all-time at Truman, trailing Nick Certa (2004-08; 82) for third.

Scouting the Ichabods:
Washburn (14-6, 8-4 MIAA) comes to Pershing having won four of five and seven of its last ten en route to 3^rd place currently in the MIAA. The Ichabods have been a one-man show on offense for much of the season, as Will McNeil (19.5 ppg) has led WU in scoring in 18 of the team's 20 games, including each of the last 12.

McNeill also serves as the team's leading rebounder at 5.5/game, while Martin Mitchell (10.9 ppg) and Alex North (7.8 ppg) help carry some of the offensive load. The 'Bods are averaging 72 points per game but are holding foes to just 62 points and 39%. The team's defense has been its catalyst, forcing nearly 17 turnovers per game for a +4.2 turnover margin.

Bob Chipman is in his 33^rd season at the helm in Topeka and won his 700^th career game earlier this season.

Up Next:
The Bulldogs will be featured on the MIAA-TV Game of the Week this Saturday afternoon in Bolivar, as Truman will try to get a season sweep against Southwest Baptist at 3:05 pm.

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