The Truman State University (Mo.) Men’s Basketball team will head to #2 University of Central Missouri to close out the 2009-10 campaign on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. 

Both the Bulldogs and Mules are coming off losses to Missouri Western in their last times out.  Truman lost 68-55 to the Griffons on Saturday night in Pershing Arena while Central was held to a season low 49 points in a 55-49 loss in St. Joseph on Wednesday.

Marcus Rhodes proved too much for the ‘Dogs on Saturday as the Griffon forward went for 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting.

Vesko Filchev shook off a slow start and scored 15 points on 7-of-14 from the floor.  Filchev missed his first four shots and finished 2-of-7 in the first half before scoring 11 in the final 20 minutes.

Filchev heads into the final game of the season as the Bulldogs leading scorer at 11.5 points per game.  Stefan Garrison (11.0), Alex Henderson (10.7) and Tom Norton (10.6) follow Filchev and are separated by just 10 points this season.

Ethan Freeman leads the team in rebounding at 8.5 per game and is second on the team with 63 assists.

The Mules clinched the MIAA Championship and the top seed in the upcoming postseason tournament last week but are vying for the top spot for the NCAA Division II South Central Regional tournament.

Central is currently number one in the regional poll but their loss to Missouri Western will have #2 Midwestern State nipping at their heels.

Rhodes and Dominique Thuston each scored 14 points in the 55-49 victory over Central Wednesday night.  The Griffons held the Mules to just 29% shooting on the night.

Sanijay Watts, the MIAA’s leading scorer and rebounder, turned in a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.  Watts averages a double-double with 21.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.

In the first meeting between the Bulldogs and Mules, Central scored 10 straight to break open a rather tight defensive affair in Pershing Arena and went on to win 75-60 on Jan. 20th.

The Bulldogs trailed by just four and had the ball with 10 minutes to play but a strong three-pointer hit off the back iron, was corralled by the Mules.  Bryce Brunz then buried a deep three-pointer at the other end to spark the 10-0 run over the next five minutes to put the game out of reach.

Watts led all scorers with 22 points while Filchev and Freeman led the Bulldogs with 12 apiece.

Courtesy Truman State University