A short turnaround awaits the Truman men’s basketball team for its third MIAA game of the season, as the Bulldogs head back on the road for a Tuesday (Dec. 7) contest at Southwest Baptist (Mo.) in Bolivar. Tipoff from John Q. Hammons Court will be at 7:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs (2-4, 0-2 MIAA) are coming off a 91-68 loss at Pittsburg (Kan.) State on Saturday afternoon, its third straight loss and second straight to open the MIAA slate.
Truman will look to control its miscues – a point of emphasis from head coach Jack Schrader following the PSU loss – against SBU, who has forced their opponents into an average of 20 turnovers per game so far this year.
The Bearcats (5-3, 2-0 MIAA), meanwhile come into Tuesday night’s game on a five-game winning streak, including MIAA week one wins against No. 12 Central Missouri (96-78) and Lincoln (93-81).
SBU has averaged 98.4 points per game during its current streak of wins and are hitting nearly 14 three-pointers per game all year.
Tuesday night will mark the 44th meeting in the all-time series between the Bulldogs and Bearcats, with SBU holding a 26-17 edge.
SBU has won the last five games against Truman, but the Bulldogs have been able to hold the Bearcats below their season scoring average each time.
Under head coach Jack Schrader (since 1995), the Bulldogs are 11-17 against Southwest Baptist and have gone 4-10 in Bolivar.
The last win for the Bulldogs at SBU came in the 2006-2007 season – an 81-68 win on Jan. 20, 2007.
The Bulldogs are led offensively by senior guard Alex Henderson (16.2 ppg), who continues to be a model of efficiency by having reached double-figured in each of Truman’s six games this year.
Fellow senior Ethan Freeman (10.8 ppg, 9.0 rpg) is just shy of a double-double average, and sophomore Tom Norton sits just outside of a double-figure average at 9.7 points per outing.
Schrader has been running a variety of combinations on the court, as only four players average more than 20 minutes per game and only six are above the 15 minute per game mark.
Media Information:
104.7 FM KRES is the official radio home of Truman football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball. Kevin White and Hank Janssen will provide coverage throughout the season of Truman basketball on the Moberly-based station.
KRES broadcasts its sports coverage online at centralmoinfo.com. Fans can also watch MIAA games on their computer this season through AmericaOne/B2 Networks for a fee.
Live stats for all Bulldog games throughout the season will be made available via links on the men’s basketball schedule page at TrumanBulldogs.com.
About the ‘Dogs:
· The Bulldogs are scoring 74.0 points per game through their first four games, while allowing opponents 72.5 points per game for a +1.5 margin.
That margin has taken a hit since the start of conference play, with Truman at -20.0 through two MIAA games.
· Senior Alex Henderson is having a hot start to the season, leading the team at 16.2 points/game and ranking third in rebounds at 4.5/game.
He is shooting 50% from the field and a blistering 59% (16-for-27) from long-distance. Henderson has scored 10+ points in all six games this season.
· Senior Ethan Freeman is averaging just shy of a double-double with 10.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.
He tied a career-high with 17 rebounds at QU on Nov. 27 and set a new career-best with 23 points against MSSU on Dec. 1.
· Having never shot better than 61% in a season from the foul line, Freeman has improved markedly this year by going 21-for-26 (81%) from the stripe through five games.
· Sophomore guard Tom Norton is also near double-figures through five games, coming in at 9.7 points/game.
He has dropped 13 three-pointers in 35 attempts and is 13-for-15 from the foul line. He is a career 93.2% foul shooter.
Courtesy Truman State University
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