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With its 81-74 win at Lincoln on Saturday, the Truman men earned an MIAA tournament berth for the first time since the 2006-07 season.

The Bulldogs enter the week currently all alone in 12th – a half-game behind both Southwest Baptist and Missouri Southern but a full game ahead of Missouri Western.

Two contingencies helping the ’Dogs is Lindenwood’s postseason ineligibility, which moves the Bulldogs up to 11th as it stands, as well as Truman’s wins against MWSU and Nebraska-Kearney that gives the Bulldogs the tiebreaker advantages.
 
Seeds 5 through 12 will play in MIAA first-round games on campus sites next Monday (March 4), with the winners joining seeds 1 through 4 in Kansas City for the eight-team event.

Quarterfinals for the men are set for Thursday (March 8), while the semifinals and championship will be held on Saturday/Sunday (March 10-11).
 
The Bulldogs could finish at best with the No. 8 seed, although a handful of potential outcomes are still in place for the Bulldogs pending other results throughout the week.

Fans are encouraged to check with TrumanBulldogs.com for the latest as the final week of the regular season plays out.
 
Turning the Corner:
The Bulldogs now have nine wins on the season, surpassing last season’s win total and giving them the most by a Truman squad since the 2006-07 season (16).
 
In addition, Truman has already matched as many road games won this season (4) as the last four years combined, as well as the most in a single-season since 2006-07 (5).

The Bulldogs have also won more MIAA games this year (6) than any since 2006-07 (9), despite playing two fewer games.
 
Bulldog Buckets:

·         The Bulldogs are scoring 71.4 ppg on the season (70.8 MIAA), shooting 44.5% from the field (43.8% MIAA), and 35.8% from three-point range (36.2% MIAA).
·         Truman is connecting at a 72.5% clip from the foul line through all 24 games, with that mark raised to 75.9% in 16 MIAA contests.
·         The Bulldogs have experienced success in the post this year, averaging 28.8 points from inside the lane.

          That compares to 25.8 points from in the paint for their opponents, leading to a +3.0 margin by the ’Dogs.
·         Truman has had 11 different 20+ point outings this season, including a team-best seven by junior Mike Carlson. Carlson (vs. WPU; Nov. 9, 2012) and senior Tom Norton (vs. UNK; Jan. 24, 2013) are tied for the team-high this year 

          with 27 games   

         Top ‘Dogs:
·         The Bulldogs are ranked in the top-third of MIAA team statistics in three-pointers made per game (4th; 7.8) and assist-to-turnover ratio (5th; 1.1).
·         Mike Carlson is one of the MIAA’s top players statistically this year, ranking third in free throw shooting (88.8%), fifth in blocks (1.4), seventh in both scoring (16.7) and steals (1.5) and 11th in rebounding (6.5).
·         Tom Norton also ranks amongst the MIAA’s elite, pacing the conference in both three-pointers made (3.2/game) and free throw shooting (92.0%).
·         Isaac Gardner ranks fifth in the MIAA in three-pointers made per game (2.4), while Cory Myers ranks seventh in assists (4.5) and 10th in assist/turnover ratio (1.5).
 
Series Notes vs. Central Missouri:
Series Record: Central Missouri leads 126-66
Last Meeting: Central Missouri 63-59 (Jan. 19, 2013 | Kirksville)
Series Streak: UCM W-16
Record in Warrensburg: Central Missouri leads 60-19 (W-6)
Last Truman win in Warrensburg: Truman 77-69 (Jan. 4, 2006)
Woodley vs. Central Missouri: 0-3
 
Scouting the Mules:
Winners of three straight, Central Missouri enters the final week of the regular season controlling its own destiny for an MIAA crown, as the Mules hold a one-game lead with two to play.

UCM hosts Truman on Wednesday before ending the season at Washburn on Saturday.
 
The Mules have the No. 2 scoring offense in the MIAA (78.0 ppg) and rank fifth in rebounding margin (+3.5).

They are led by Dominique Long’s 16.3 points per game, while Widgett Washington leads the MIAA in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3) and ranks fourth in assists at 5.3 per game.
 
Earlier this season, the Bulldogs came up four points short in a 63-59 home loss on Jan. 19.

Truman led by five with 5:38 to play and was tied at the 3:08 mark before the Mules scored six of the final eight points for the victory.

Mike Carlson led the ’Dogs with 15 points, while Long paced all players with 20 for UCM.
 
Kim Anderson is in his 11th season at UCM and has a 240-88 record at the school.

Courtesy Truman State University