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The Truman men’s basketball team faces a stiff test on Wednesday night in the midst of fighting for the eighth and final MIAA tournament spot when league-leading and 18th-ranked Northwest Missouri State visits Kirksville to start a three-game MIAA home-stand.
 
The Bulldogs (7-17, 4-12 MIAA) enter the penultimate week of the regular season tied with Emporia State for eighth place with four games to go.

Truman will be trying to win its second game in three nights following a 76-73 nonconference victory on Monday night against Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.).
 
Meanwhile, Northwest Missouri (19-3, 13-3 MIAA) will find out early Wednesday where it stands in the first set of South Central regional rankings, as the Bearcats hold a one-game lead on Washburn in the league standings.

The Bearcats are coming off a pair of home wins last week against Lincoln (80-60; Feb. 8) and Missouri Western (67-61; Feb. 11).
 
The two (of three) MIAA charter members will be meeting for the 192nd time, with the Bearcats holding a 100-91 lead in the all-time series. Northwest has won two straight, including a 65-47 win in Maryville on Jan. 7.

 In that game, Seth Jackson, Mike Carlson and Tyler Anderson all finished in double-figures, but the ‘Dogs shot just 2-for-16 from long range and 13-for-25 from the free throw line to allow NWMSU to pull away in the second half. Kyle Haake, DeShaun Cooper and Dillon Starzl all hit double-figures for the Bearcats.
 
MIAA Tournament Outlook:

With four games to go in the regular season, an all-out sprint for the final tournament spot is on between four squads separated by just two losses in the standings.

Truman and Emporia State are currently tied for 8th at 4-12, while Lincoln (3-13) and Missouri Western (2-14) are close behind. None of the four teams can reach either Pittsburg State or Southwest Baptist (both 9-8) for 6th or 7th.
 
Adding to the drama during the final weeks is the amount of head-to-head matches in store between the quartet, as Truman will face both MWSU (Sat.) and LU (2/22), while the LU Blue Tigers will face all three squads in the next eight days.

Courtesy Truman State University