The Truman men’s basketball team faces a tough test on Saturday afternoon in opening the second half of MIAA play, as the Bulldogs head to No. 14 Missouri Southern for a 3:00 pm tipoff at the Leggett and Platt Center in Joplin, Missouri.
The Bulldogs (5-10, 3-8 MIAA) struggled at Central Missouri on Wednesday night, falling 73-45, to mark alternating wins and losses for the last four games.
Despite scoring the fewest points in a game so far this season, Truman didn’t lose ground in the race for the eighth spot in the conference tournament, remaining two games behind Pittsburg State and UCM.
Missouri Southern (14-1, 10-1 MIAA) completed its first run-through of the MIAA nearly flawless and has won five straight dating back to a two-point loss on Jan. 2 at home to PSU.
The most recent stretch includes road wins at Emporia State, Nebraska-Omaha and Northwest Missouri, along with home wins against Washburn and No. 6 Fort Hays State.
Saturday marks the 42nd all-time meeting between the programs, with MSSU holding a 24-17 edge in the series.
The Lions have won the last seven meetings between the teams, with Truman’s 76-68 win in Kirksville on Jan. 27, 2007 marking the last Bulldog win.
The Bulldogs’ last win in Joplin came on Dec. 9, 2006 in a 70-53 win behind a 12-point, 13-rebound, 8-assist game by Andy Calmes.
Under head coach Jack Schrader (since 1995), the Bulldogs are 11-20 against the Lions and 4-10 at the Leggett and Platt Center. Truman is 3-4 in its last seven trips to Joplin.
Courtesy truman State University
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