KIRKSVILLE, MO -- Truman returns home, albeit briefly, for a key MIAA game against Pittsburg State on Wednesday night. The Bulldogs fight for a playoff spot in the postseason tournament continues with a team that is just above them in the standings.
Truman had some chances late to erase a 17-point second half deficit on Saturday at Missouri Southern but came up just short in a 57-51 loss to the Lions. Two turnovers and two missed three-point attempts in the final minute prevented the Bulldogs from picked up the win in Joplin.
Alex Henderson, who matched a career high with six field goals, scored 14 of his game-high 15 points in the second half, while senior Todd Kulage earned his first start and played a career-high 35 minutes for the Bulldogs, who dropped to 6-12 overall and 1-10 in the MIAA.
A 10-1 run in the middle of the second half broke open just a two point contest between Pittsburg State and Missouri Western on Saturday night. The Griffons, behind 16 points from Quentin Noblin, handed the Gorillas fifth loss in six games.
Carlos Taylor, who is fourth in the MIAA in scoring at 17.4 ppg, had 21 in the loss to Missouri Western. Taylor was 6-of-15 from the floor and made all seven free throw attempts. Spencer Magana added 16 and TJ Stukes and Rodney Grace each chipped in 10.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?:
The Bulldogs need a victory to keep their chances of an MIAA postseason berth alive. Truman is in 11th place and 3 ½ games back of Missouri Western for the eighth seed and 4 ½ games behind Fort Hays State for seventh. Northwest Missouri is three games ahead of Truman and Pittsburg State is just two games in front in the standings.
Pittsburg State is three games back of Missouri Western, after the Griffons swept the season series, and 2 ½ games behind Fort Hays State for the final playoff spot.
Truman is looking to win consecutive home conference games since Jan. 27th and Feb. 3rd 2007. The Bulldogs were 69-67 winners over Missouri Western the last time out on the Pershing Arena floor.
Pittsburg State has not won on the road this season (0-5) and have dropped their last 10 road games. The Gorillas last win on the road was Jan. 23 in St. Joseph against Missouri Western.
BULLDOGS BITES:
Senior Banks Estridge and sophomore Ethan Freeman are tied for the team in scoring per game average. They are both averaging 10.3 points per game but Estridge has outscored Freeman 186 to 185.
Estridge leads the team in assists (2.6 pg) and steals (30). The senior is eighth in the MIAA in steals per game at 1.67.
Freeman is not only tied in scoring but tied with senior Patrick Fandja in rebounding per game. Both average 5.9 rebounds per game and are tied for 10th in the conference.
The Bulldogs have had 12 different starting lineups this season through 18 games. Only one combination (Fandja, Freeman, Estridge, Gabe Landau, Alex Henderson) has started four games together. Truman has had five different starting line-ups the last five games.
The Bulldogs are shooting 42% from the field and 32% from beyond the arc. Truman averages 3.83 three-pointers made per game.
The Bulldogs are 5-0 when leading at the half, 5-3 when winning the battle of the boards. Truman is 6-4 in home games this season.
Truman is averaging 63.2 points per game and has a season-high 97 against Central Christian College.
The Bulldogs are fifth in the conference in scoring defense, allowing 68.3 points per game.
Three Bulldogs have topped 20 points in a game this season. Patrick Fandja holds the season-high with 23 points against Missouri Western last time out. Fandja also had 22 against Washburn. Banks Estridge’s 21 against UNO and Northwest is third. Ethan Freeman scored 20 against William Woods.
Fandja and Brandon Griffin have recorded the only double-doubles this season. Fandja had 23 and 11 against Missouri Western and 22 and 11 against Washburn on Dec. 13th while Griffin scored 19 and had 12 rebounds against Central Christian College on Nov. 20th.
SCOUTING PITTSBURG STATE:
The Gorillas have the distinction of playing in four overtime games this season (1-3). They were involved in a four-overtime game on Jan. 10th against Emporia State (102-100 loss) and most recently won 88-86 against Nebraska-Omaha last Wednesday night.
That overtime win over the Mavericks has been the only victory in the past six games for the Gorillas who have dropped to outside the top eight teams for a playoff spot.
The Gorillas are second in the conference in blocks per game (3.78) and second in rebounding offense (40.2). PSU is sixth in scoring offense at 76.3 points per game and ninth in defensive scoring, allowing 74.6 points per game.
Carlos Taylor is the team’s leading scorer at 17.4 points per game and a 19.6 mark in conference games. Taylor scored a season-high 33 points in the first meeting with Missouri Western back on Dec. 3rd, which is the second most of any MIAA player this season (35, Matt Rogers, Southwest Baptist vs. Central is tops)
Taylor is fourth in league scoring, tied for third in three-pointers per game (2.44), tied for fifth in blocked shots (0.78) eighth in free throw percentage (72.7%) and 10th in field goal percentage (42.5%).
TJ Stukes is third in conference rebounding at eight per game and is joined in that category by Ivan Evans at 6.1 per contest. Stukes is also third in blocks per game (1.39) and has 25 on the season.
COACHES:
Jack Schrader is in his 14th season as head coach of the Bulldogs. He has an overall record of 153-224. Schrader has guided two Bulldog team to the NCAA Division II tournament. The 1998-99 team finished their season at the NCAA Final Four, while the 2005-06 team was a participant in the NCAA South Central regional.
Truman has only had three men’s basketball coaches since 1946, Boyd King (1946-1971), Willard Sims (1971-1995) and Schrader (1996-present). Schrader has twice been named the MIAA and NABC South Central region Coach of the Year.
Coach Schrader picked up his 150th victory of his career as Bulldog head coach in a 97-71 win over Central Christian on Nov. 20th. He is currently third all-time among Truman coaches trailing Boyd King (379 wins) and Williard Sims (310 wins).
Gene Iba is also in his 14th season at Pittsburg State and has posted a 251-147 recording during that span. Iba is in his 29th season overall as a head coach and has won 476 games to 350 losses.
SERIES:
This is the 38th meeting between Pittsburg State and Truman. The Gorillas lead the all-time series with the Bulldogs 29-8.
The Bulldogs are 5-12 in games against the Gorillas in Pershing Arena with the last win coming on Feb. 11, 2006 (81-76 OT). The Gorillas have won the last five meetings, including a 62-59 overtime win last year in Kirksville and a 81-73 win earlier this season in Pittsburg.
Courtesy Truman State University
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