PDF Notes | GLVCSN | KRES Online Listen | Live Stats

KIRKSVILLE, Mo.—The Truman State Men's Basketball team shot lights out in last weekend's showdown with Missouri-St. Louis to move to 3-0 in the conference. But in the GLVC there are no easy games, and this weekend's opponent is another 3-0 team in Lindenwood.

Against the Tritons, Cade McKnight scored a season high 26 points to lead the Bulldogs for the third straight game. The junior forward has climbed to sixth in the GLVC with 19.7 points per game. He's third on the team with 4.3 rebounds per game and has recorded two steals and one blocked shot so far.

Masen Miller had a big output against UMSL as well, with 25 points and shot 7-7 from downtown. The freshman guard is currently second on the team in minutes played at 32.7 per game and leads the team with 12 threes, which is the most in the GLVC and tied for fourth nationally.

Turner Scott continues to climb the leaderboard in Truman history in assists, with 322 for his career. He is now tied for sixth with Chip Sodemann with 322. He reached double digit points for the second time this year with 12 against UMSL as he also dished out six assists. At 6.7 assists per game, he is tied for tenth nationally in that category.

Dylan Peeters reached double figures in boards for the third straight game this past weekend, and is averaging 12 boards per game--fourth best nationally. He remains second in the GLVC in boards per game, though leads the conference in total rebounds with 36. His two double-doubles on the season is tied with six other players for the most in Division II. He has also blocked four of the team's seven blocked shots. 

Elijah Hazekamp has shown his range from outside the arc so far this season as he is second on the team with six three point buckets. He scored a dozen in each of the first two games and he is second on the team with six rebounds a game.

Hunter Strait leads the team with four steals as a sixth man coming off the bench. The junior guard has drained four threes in three games, along with grabbing ten boards in over 21 minutes a game.

Currently five Bulldogs are averaging double figures with McKnight's 19.7, Miller's 14.3, Scott at 11.3, Hazekamp at 10.7 and Peeters at 10 even.

Overall the Bulldogs have won nine in a row dating back to last season. It is their longest win streak since the 199-99 season in which they had 15 straight wins.

Lions Scouting Report

Lindenwood has started the season 3-0 after going 12-16 last season. TJ Crockett leads the conference so far with 25 points per game, which is fifth nationally. He's also dishing out three assists per game. Romelo Burrell is the team's leading rebounder with 9.7 per game. Burrell comes to the Lions after spending the last two years at Central Michigan. In 67 games for the Chippewas he averaged 2.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. Also recorded 32 blocks.

Thus far this season the Lions have taken down Missouri S&T, Maryville and Quincy. Maryville was a close game at 73-69, but the other two games the Lions won by double digits.

Lindenwood was ranked third in the GLVC Central preseason poll, with 44 points and one first place vote. UMSL and Truman were above them, with Truman 12 points ahead.

Series History

Truman has won four of the seven meetings between the two teams. Last year was the first meeting between the two as members of the GLVC, and it was a nail biting 72-70 win for the Bulldogs at Pershing Arena. Brodric Thomas led the way for Truman with 27 while McKnight scored 23. Thomas got a crucial steal at the end of the game up 71-70, was fouled and made it a two point edge as the Bulldogs held on.

Coming Up

The Bulldogs play their third consecutive game in the St. Louis area next Friday as they take on Maryville on the 18th. The Bulldogs finally come home on the 20th to close out the year against Quincy.