KIRKSVILLE, Mo.—Following up coach Jeff Horner's first campaign as head coach, the Truman Men's Basketball team looks to improve on last season's 14-15 record. Last year the team opened the season with the GLVC/G-MAC challenge at Pershing Arena, as they took on Findlay and Cedarville. The Bulldogs will take on these two opponents in Findlay to start this season. Opening tip Friday will be at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT against Findlay and then Saturday the Bulldogs tip against the Yellow Jackets at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT.
The Bulldogs are 0-2 against Findlay, falling 71-52 in the 2003-04 season and 81-57 in last season's opener. Truman has taken two of three meetings with Cedarville, winning 82-70 in the 2016-17 season opener and 75-65 in 2017-18 before dropping last season's meeting. In last year's game the team tied for their fifth best performance all-time with 17 made three pointers.
Guard Brodric Thomas returns for his senior season after leading the team with 18.3 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game. He was also named first team All-GLVC for the second straight year and named to the All-Defensive team last season. He had 1.2 blocks per game and 1.3 steals per game, both of which led the team.
Cade McKnight was named unanimous All-Freshman last season, the only member of the All-Freshman team to be voted unanimously. He was second on the team with 13 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game. He also led the conference with 66.4% shooting from the field in conference games.
To begin this campaign, the Bulldogs took on Illinois State; where they played a blistering first half that saw them go to the locker room with a 39-26 edge before ultimately falling 74-68 to the Division I opponent. Thomas led the team with 21 points in 27 minutes while Alex McQuinn led the team with seven rebounds, had the lone blocked shot and added six points. Turner Scott was second on the team with 14 points and drained two of the team's five threes.
The Opponents:
Last season Findlay went 28-5, losing in the G-MAC tournament final to Walsh. In the Midwest Regional they defeated Drury before losing to #7 Bellarmine. They open the season ranked 17th in the National Association of Basketball Coaches poll and were picked second in the G-MAC; behind Walsh. They are led by senior forward Aaron Overhiser, who was second on the team last season with 13 points per game and second in rebounds per game with 6.1. Junior guard Anthony Masterlasco averaged 10.5 points per game a season ago, shot 55.8% from the field and started all 33 games.
Cedarville won the National Christian College Athletic Association Championship last season. They are led by Conner TenHove, the junior forward led the team with 15 points per game in 63 made threes as a sophomore in 2018-19. He also led the team with 208 rebounds, 6.3 per game. Branden Maughmer anchored the defense with 54 steals and dished out 97 assists, both led the team among returning players. Kollin Van Horn led them with 38 blocked shots a season ago, and was second in rebounds with 4.5 per game.
Up next:
The Bulldogs will be at Grand Valley State on the 14th for a 5 p.m. CT tip off, followed by a game at Davenport on the 16th which will start at 2 p.m. CT. The first home game for the Bulldogs will be against Missouri Southern State on the 21st at 7:00 at Pershing Arena.
