Men's Basketball Game 6 Notes: at Missouri Western

Game 6: Truman (2-3) vs. Missouri Western (4-2)

Date: Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Time: 7:30 pm CT
Location: St. Joseph, Mo. || MWSU Fieldhouse
Radio: 104.7 KRES-FM (Moberly, Mo.) || Listen Online
Video: Watch Online
Live Stats: Regular
Game Notes: Truman || Missouri Western
Statistics: Truman || Missouri Western || MIAA
Social Media: @TrumanAthletics | Tweet #TSUvsMWSU

Opening Tip:
The 85^th and final season of MIAA men's basketball kicks off for Truman on Wednesday night, as the Bulldogs open conference play with a 7:30 pm tilt at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo. Truman has been off for a week following a 71-61 win against Grand View (Iowa) on Nov. 28.

For the first time in seven seasons, the Bulldogs will be facing an opponent other than Missouri Southern to begin league action, starting with MWSU for the first time since the 1992-93 conference opener – a 65-61 loss in St. Joseph. Truman will be looking to snap a five-game losing streak in MIAA starters, dating back to a 70-53 win at MSSU on Dec. 9, 2006.

Wednesday marks the only scheduled contest between the squads this season.

Probable Starters:
G – #2 – Seth Jackson – 6'3” – 200 – SO – 12.0 ppg | 2.6 rpg | 2.0 apg
F – #5 – Mike Carlson – 6'9” – 200 – JR – 15.8 ppg | 5.6 rpg | 1.8 apg
G – #11 – Cole Myers – 6'3” – 190 – FR – 6.4 ppg | 3.4 rpg | 1.6 apg
G – #12 – Cory Myers – 6'3” – 190 – FR – 6.0 ppg | 3.2 rpg | 4.0 apg
F – #33 – Tyler Anderson – 6'5” – 210 – SO – 7.0 ppg | 3.6 rpg | 0.6 apg

Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Matt Woodley
Career Record: 10-23 || .303 || 2^nd season
At Truman: Same
MIAA: 5-15 || .250
Assistant Coaches: Todd Lorensen (2^nd season), Matt Fitzpatrick (2^nd season)

Series Notes vs. Missouri Western:
Series Record: Missouri Western leads 38-24
Last Meeting: MWSU 74, TSU 70 (2/18/12 || Kirksville, Mo.
Series Streak: Missouri Western W-1
Record in St. Joseph: Missouri Western leads 19-11 (Truman W-2)
Last TSU win in St. Joseph: Jan. 11, 2012 (W 87-86; OT)
Woodley vs. Missouri Western: 1-1

Three to Take:
1) TSU scoring vs. MWSU defending - - The Bulldogs rank sixth in the MIAA in scoring through its first five games, but will face a Griffon squad that leads the league by allowing just 51.7 ppg.
2) For Starters… - - The Bulldogs have been deadly in the first half this season, shooting 51% from the field, including a 43% mark from three-point range.
3) Squeaky Clean - - The Bulldogs have cleaned up the defensive glass to the tune of a 77.2% defensive rebounding percentage so far in 2012-13, tops in the MIAA. The Griffons are averaging at least one offensive board on 35.9% of their possessions, fifth-highest in the MIAA.

Bulldog Tip-Ins:

Truman is shooting 47.1% from the field as a team so far in 2012-13, including a 35.7% mark from three-point range.
The 'Dogs are getting to the free throw line an average of 20.0 times per game and are connecting at a 64.0% rate.
The Bulldogs have a 1.39 assist-to-turnover ratio on the year, forcing 74 turnovers while committing just 53 of their own.
Minutes have been distributed well amongst Woodley's squad, with seven players ranging between 17.0 and 23.0 minutes per game. Only Cory Myers (27.6) and Mike Carlson (26.8) are averaging more than 23 minutes.
The eight triples per game lead the MIAA, with Isaac Gardner sitting second in the conference with 15 total.
Truman has controlled the ball this season, posting a +4.2 turnover margin – the second-highest mark in the MIAA.
The Bulldogs will be looking to snap a six-game road losing streak, with their last win coming on Jan. 11, 2012 at Missouri Western.

Last MIAA First:
As mentioned in the opening section, the 2012-13 season marks the final one for the Truman program in the MIAA, with the department transitioning to the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) starting on July 1, 2013. The Bulldogs are 453-623 (.421) all-time in 84 seasons of league play, having won nine regular season and two tournament championships.

Nailbiters for the Bulldogs:
After seeing 13 of its 28 games last season finish within a six point or closer margin, 2013 has already begun to replicate that, with all three of Truman's losses coming within five points (5, 3, 2). The Bulldogs went 3-10 in the 13 close games last season.

Last Time Out:
November 28, 2012 – @ Truman 71, Grand View 61
A 13-4 run to close the first half and a quick 11-1 blitz in the waning minutes both helped the Truman men's basketball team pick up a 71-61 win against Grand View (Iowa) on Wednesday night in Pershing Arena.

The Bulldogs were blistering from the field all night, shooting better than 50% in both halves for a game total of 55.6% (25-of-45). The squad was 10-of-20 (50%) from three-point range, as both Isaac Gardner and Matt Patterson hit three each off the bench. Patterson's 11 marked a new career-high, as he was one of three Bulldogs in double-figures, being joined by Mike Carlson's 15 and Seth Jackson's 14. Cory Myers pulled down a team-high six rebounds and dished a game-best five assists.

Scouting the Griffons:
Missouri Western is out to a 4-2 start, having won two straight against Rockhurst and Illinois-Springfield to close the non-conference slate. The Griffons host Truman on Wednesday before welcoming Fort Hays on Saturday afternoon to start MIAA action.

The Griffons, 3-1 at home this season, are averaging 63.0 points per game and are allowing a shade less than 52.0 in 2012-13. Cedric Clickscales is leading the squad with a 15.5 ppg mark on 63% shooting, while Dzenan Mrkaljevic is adding 8.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest. MWSU is shooting 42% from the floor but just 27% from three-point range, while forcing 93 turnovers (15.5/gm) on the year.

Tom Smith is in his 25^th season at MWSU and 38^th season overall as a collegiate head coach, having compiled a 442-264 record during his time as a Griffon.

Bulldogs Notables vs. MWSU:

Marek Bush averaged 9.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game against MWSU last season, shooting 67% from the floor.
Mike Carlson averaged 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season against MWSU.
Isaac Gardner has eight three's in four career contests against MWSU.
Seth Jackson shot 58% from the floor, averaging 18.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season.
Tom Norton, who is looking to take a medical redshirt this season, has 19 three's in six games against MWSU, averaging 11.5 points per game.

Five Peas in an MIAA Pod:
For the 2012-13 season, the MIAA will be invoking a “pod” system for basketball scheduling, resulting in 18 league matches for all 15 of the conference's schools. While all 15 teams will fall under set of standings with no delineation between pods, Truman will play Central Missouri, Lincoln, Southwest Baptist and newcomer-Lindenwood and Southwest Baptist twice each as part of one five-team grouping.

Emporia State, Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State will join with newcomers Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State as a second pod, while Northwest Missouri, Missouri Western, Washburn and Fort Hays will align with the final newcomer, Nebraska-Kearney, in a third pod.

At the end of the season, the top 12 teams will compete for the MIAA men's basketball championship. First-round games will be played on Monday, March 4 on campus sites with the top-4 teams and the first-round winners advancing to Kansas City for the remainder of the tournament as usual.

Up Next:
The Bulldogs host Missouri Southern (4-3, 0-0 MIAA) on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm in Pershing Arena. It will be the MIAA opener for the Lions.

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