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(AP) -- The Truman men’s basketball team returns to Pershing Arena – the site of all five of the team’s wins this season – on Wednesday night for a critical MIAA matchup against the Pittsburg State Gorillas at 7:30 pm.

The Bulldogs (5-11, 3-9 MIAA) are beginning to enter must-win territory as the second-half of the MIAA season gets in full swing, as Truman sits three games back of a two-way tie for seventh entering Wednesday night’s games.

One of those teams, however, are the PSU Gorillas (10-6, 6-6 MIAA), a squad that has dropped three of its last four games and are just 2-4 away from home on the year.

Wednesday marks the 42nd all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and Gorillas, with Pitt State holding a 31-10 edge in the series.

The Gorillas have swept the season series nine times since the 2000-2001 season, with Truman’s lone season sweep coming last year.

All-time in Kirksville, the Bulldogs are 6-13 against Pitt State, including 4-10 under head coach Jack Schrader (since 1995).

Three of the past eight games in Pershing Arena have gone to overtime, with the ’Dogs going 1-2 in those affairs.

Under Schrader, the Bulldogs are 6-24 against the Gorillas.

Three to Track:

·PSU front line vs. Ethan Freeman – The Gorillas are the MIAA’s top boarding squad and 2nd-best offensive rebounding unit, while Freeman is the league’s best defensive rebounder.

·Norton/Gardner/Henderson vs. PSU perimeter D – The Bulldogs are second in the league from deep, connecting at 38.3%, while the Gorillas hold foes to just 35% from distance.

·Free Throw Battle – The Bulldogs and Gorillas both rank in the bottom-3 of the MIAA from the free throw line (percentage).

Courtesy Truman State University

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