For the 86^th time in program history, the Truman men’s basketball team will start play in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) this Wednesday night when the Bulldogs travel to 4^th-ranked Missouri Southern for a 7:30 pm tip in Joplin, Mo.
 
The Bulldogs, 2-5 on the season through seven non-conference games, will face their toughest test to-date in the 2011-12 season when they take on the Lions, who are off to 6-0 start of their own.

Wednesday night’s game will mark the sixth straight season that the Bulldogs and Lions have opened MIAA play against each other, with MSSU taking the last four.
 
Truman is coming off a 75-68 loss on Saturday (Nov. 26) at Upper Iowa University, marking the team’s third straight loss after winning back-to-back games on Nov. 15 and 17.

The Bulldogs are 0-5 against Division II competition this year, having played all regional opponents at the Div. II level since the start of the season.
 
Missouri Southern, meanwhile, has been idle since a 68-66 win in Kansas City’s Sprint Center on Nov. 22 against Northeastern (Okla.) State. It was the first time the Lions had been held below 85 points all season.
 
The Lions hold an eight-game edge in the all-time series, as the green and gold currently have a 25-17 lead.

However, that lead has been built during the past four seasons, as MSSU has won eight straight dating back to a 76-68 Bulldog win in Kirksville on Jan. 27, 2007.

Truman is 6-14 all-time in Joplin.
 
Courtesy Truman State University