New-Look Bulldogs Blend Experience and Youth Entering 2026-27 Season

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - The Truman State University men's basketball team will feature a new-look roster during the 2026-27 season as the Bulldogs combine four returning players with 11 newcomers.

Truman finished 12-16 overall and 9-11 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play last season. The Bulldogs averaged 77.0 points per game, shot 46.2 percent from the field and earned conference victories over Drury, Illinois Springfield, Lewis, Quincy, Southwest Baptist, Missouri S&T, Missouri-St. Louis and Maryville.

Head coach Mike Worley and his staff rebuilt the roster with transfers who have competed at the NCAA Division I, Division II, NAIA and junior college levels, along with three freshmen.

"This roster was exciting to build and is full of high-character, low-ego guys who are serious about basketball along with high academic achievement," Worley said. "We were able to identify experienced guards and wings in the transfer portal who were excited about the academic reputation of Truman and the competitiveness of the GLVC."

The Bulldogs open the season with an exhibition at Missouri State on Friday, Nov. 6. The regular season begins Monday, Nov. 9, against Delta State inside Pershing Arena.

McCafferty and Carver-Smith Lead Returning Group

Junior center Quientan McCafferty leads Truman's four returning players after appearing in 24 games with 11 starts last season.

The 6-foot-10 center averaged 6.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 12.5 minutes per game while shooting 53.0 percent from the field. McCafferty finished second on the team with 19 blocked shots and made 13 of his 35 three-point attempts.

He averaged 6.5 points and 4.3 rebounds during 18 GLVC appearances. McCafferty started the final 11 conference games in which he appeared.

Junior guard/forward Marquis Carver-Smith played in 22 games with six starts and averaged 6.3 points and 3.0 rebounds. He shot 45.3 percent from the field and converted 43 free throws.

Carver-Smith increased his three-point percentage to 36.0 percent during conference competition. He averaged 6.1 points and 2.9 rebounds across 14 GLVC appearances.

Sophomores Mason Carroll and Darin Donalds complete the returning group. Both made two appearances during their first collegiate seasons.

The four returners accounted for 295 points and 175 rebounds last season. Truman will replace its top five scorers, creating opportunities throughout the rotation.

Experienced Transfers Reshape Backcourt

Junior guard Roy Henderson III joins the Bulldogs after earning First Team All-NJCAA Region 2 honors at Eastern Oklahoma State College.

Henderson started all 31 games last season and averaged 18.0 points and 4.1 assists. He made 90 three-pointers at a 35.9 percent rate and gives Truman an experienced scorer and distributor.

Jakob Blakley arrives after two seasons at NCAA Division I Le Moyne. The junior guard appeared in 32 games with 28 starts last season, averaging 4.2 points while shooting 87.5 percent from the free-throw line.

Senior Kyle Edison played the previous two seasons at Southeastern Louisiana after beginning his collegiate career at Three Rivers College. Edison averaged 10.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals while making 23 starts at Three Rivers.

Junior Micah Caster appeared in 49 games across two seasons at Louisiana-Monroe. The 6-foot-2 guard shot 34.9 percent from three-point range during his time with the Warhawks.

Redshirt junior Cooper Bean spent three seasons at Indiana State and appeared in 17 games during the 2025-26 campaign.

Antwan Robinson gives the Bulldogs additional size on the perimeter. The 6-foot-4 redshirt junior played two seasons at Cal State Fullerton before redshirting last year at Arkansas-Fort Smith. Robinson appeared in 30 games with 19 starts at Cal State Fullerton and averaged 6.4 points and 3.2 rebounds.

Redshirt sophomore Eli Gaeth adds another option in the backcourt after spending last season at Iowa Western Community College. Gaeth began his career at Concordia University Nebraska, where he averaged 5.4 points, 2.6 assists and 2.6 rebounds as a freshman.

Moe Adds Production to Frontcourt

Redshirt junior forward Pete Moe II joins Truman after earning Second Team All-NJCAA Region 2 recognition at National Park College.

The 6-foot-9 forward led the region with 636 points and paced National Park with 88 assists, 135 defensive rebounds and 217 total rebounds. Moe previously competed at Barry University and NCAA Division I Marshall.

His scoring and rebounding experience will give Truman another interior option alongside McCafferty.

The Bulldogs also added freshmen Ethan Taylor, William Mpata and Chance Lorenz.

Taylor spent last season at Link Academy after previously averaging 17.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists at SLAM Miami. The 6-foot-5 forward has also represented the Turks and Caicos Islands in international competition.

Mpata averaged 18.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists at DME Academy. The Brussels, Belgium, native won two international championships while representing his country at the under-16 level.

Lorenz finished his career at Harrison High School in Arkansas with 750 points and 300 assists. The 5-foot-9 guard earned all-conference and team MVP honors while helping Harrison win a conference championship.

Bulldogs Begin Regular Season at Home

Truman plays its exhibition game at Missouri State on Nov. 6 before hosting Delta State at 7 p.m. on Nov. 9.

The Bulldogs travel to Cedarville, Ohio, for games against Findlay and Cedarville on Nov. 13-14. Truman then visits Delta State on Nov. 21 and Northwestern Oklahoma State on Nov. 24.

GLVC play begins Nov. 28 when Truman hosts Missouri S&T at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs follow with road conference games against Upper Iowa and Rockhurst before returning home for three nonconference contests.

Roosevelt visits Pershing Arena for Reading Day on Dec. 9. Truman hosts Ozark Christian at 11 a.m. for Education Day on Dec. 15 and opens the new year against Central Christian College of the Bible on Jan. 1.

The remaining schedule consists of 17 consecutive GLVC contests. Truman hosts Upper Iowa for its Coaches vs. Cancer Game on Feb. 11 and closes the regular season against Indianapolis on Senior Day on Feb. 27.

The Bulldogs have 14 regular-season home games and 20 total conference contests. The GLVC Tournament begins March 4 in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Truman Tied for 11th in GLVC Preseason Poll

Truman received 64 points and tied Lincoln for 11th in the GLVC preseason coaches' poll.

McKendree received nine first-place votes and 190 points to lead the poll. Defending GLVC Tournament champion William Jewell received six first-place votes and finished four points behind the Bearcats.

Upper Iowa was selected third, followed by Illinois Springfield, Indianapolis and Missouri S&T.
 

2026-27 GLVC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

2026-27 Truman Men's Basketball Schedule

*GLVC game

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