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KIRKSVILLE - - The longest road trip of the season – in terms of mileage – comes to a close for the Truman men's basketball team this Wednesday (Jan. 5) night, as the Bulldogs head to Omaha, Neb., to take on the UNO Mavericks at 7:30 pm.
The Bulldogs (3-7, 1-5 MIAA) are currently on a two game slide, which includes an 84-57 setback at No. 6 Fort Hays (Kan.) State on Monday (Jan. 3) evening. Truman is also in search of its first road win of the 2010-2011 season, as the purple and white are 0-5 away from the friendly confines of Pershing Arena.
Nebraska-Omaha (6-4, 3-3 MIAA) comes in with momentum swung the other way, as the Mavericks have won three straight in conference play after dropping their first three. UNO most recently dealt Missouri Western a 98-93 defeat in St. Joseph, Mo., behind Mitch Albers' 25 points. The Mavs are a perfect 5-0 inside Sapp Fieldhouse this season.
Wednesday's contest marks the 19th all-time meeting between Truman and the Mavericks, with the series split 9-9. UNO swept last year's season series and has won all four games since joining the conference two years ago. Truman's last win against UNO came on Dec. 18, 2005 – a 64-60 win in Quincy, Ill., while the last win in Omaha was on Feb. 15, 1965 – a 76-63 Bulldog victory. The teams have played five times in Omaha since, with UNO capturing all five contests.
Under head coach Jack Schrader (since 1995), the Bulldogs are 2-5, with both wins coming on a neutral court.
Bulldog Quick Hits:
For the first time all season on Monday night, 6-foot-0 guard Alex Henderson did not reach double-figures in a game, scoring just seven at Fort Hays State. However, the Willard, Mo.-native continues to lead the team offensively by averaging 16.4 points per game. Keyed by an MIAA-best 48.9% three-point mark, Henderson ranks eighth in the MIAA in scoring.
Joining him in double-figures on the offensive end are both senior Ethan Freeman (11.6 ppg) and sophomore Tom Norton (10.2 ppg). Freeman is the team's leading rebounder at 8.3 per game, a mark good for second in the MIAA, while Norton's 25 three-pointers are a team-best.
Junior Vesko Filchev (7.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and senior Stefan Garrison (5.8 ppg) round out coach Schrader's traditional starting lineup, as that five-man combination has been used in nine of the team's ten games this season.
First off the bench has been freshman guard Isaac Gardner, whose 48.8% three-point mark sits right behind Henderson in the MIAA rankings. Gardner has drilled 21 three-pointers this season and is fifth on the squad in scoring at 6.9 per contest.
Truman is shooting 43.4% from the field for the season, 39.5% from long-range and 69.8% from the free throw line. Opponents, meanwhile, are connecting at a 46.1% mark overall, 34.6% from distance and 68.9% at the charity stripe.
Media Information:
104.7 FM KRES is the official radio home of Truman football, men's basketball and women's basketball. Brad Boyer 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 73.0 points per game through nine games, while allowing opponents 77.9 points per game for a -4.9 margin. While drawing closer to the midline, that margin has taken its biggest hit since the start of conference play, with Truman at -16.4 through six MIAA games.
· Senior Alex Henderson set a new career-high with 24 points against Culver-Stockton on Nov. 15 and has topped the 20-point mark three times this year. He also ranks in the conference's top-ten in assists (3.3 per game) and minutes played.
· Senior Ethan Freeman 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. He also handed out a career-best seven assists against Washburn on Dec. 11. In addition to ranking second in the league in rebounding, he is the league-leader in defensive rebounds (6.3/game) and is ninth in assists (3.4).
· Sophomore guard Tom Norton continues to find his success from long-range, as 25 of his 29 made field goals have been three-pointers. He is a career 91.3% foul shooter and hit 31 straight at one point during his freshman year. This season, he is 19-for-22 from the charity stripe.
· Junior Vesko Filchev picked up his second double-double of the season against Washburn on Dec. 11, finishing with 13 points and ten rebounds. Filchev has dominated the paint defensively this year, swatting ten shots to lead the 'Dogs (sixth in the MIAA) and pulling down 5.7 rebounds/game.
· Freshman Isaac Gardner has been a sniper off the bench, hitting 49% of his three-pointers. Like Norton, almost all of his field goals have been from beyond the arc (21 three-pointers, three two-pointers).
· The Bulldogs rank second in the MIAA in three-point percentage, connecting at a 39.5% clip. Truman also ranks second in defensive rebounds (26.2) and third in three-pointers made (8.7).
A Look at the Mavericks:
Picked to finish third by both the coaches and media prior to the start of the MIAA season, Nebraska-Omaha has settled into a groove after a 3-4 start to the season. The Mavericks have won three straight in MIAA play to improve to 6-4 overall, 3-3 in the conference.
Truman and UNO have played three common opponents in MIAA play, with both falling to Fort Hays and Emporia State. The Bulldogs, however, have earned a win against Washburn, while UNO dropped its conference-opener to the Ichabods, 79-73.
Tyler Bullock (19.3 ppg; 4th in MIAA) and Mitch Albers (15.3 ppg; 11th in MIAA) carry the offensive load for UNO, with the duo combining for six 20+ point games this season. Bullock's strength has been in the post, hitting 52% of his field goals and getting to the free throw line 76 times, while Albers has drained 16 three-pointers to serve as one of the squad's top deep weapons.
The Mavs rank in the middle of the MIAA in most categories, but excel in free throw percentage (3rd; 72.5%), assist/turnover ratio (4th; 1.2) and field goal defense (5th; 43.7%). UNO has surrendered nearly 13 offensive rebounds per game and are last in the conference in rebounding margin at -7.8.
Nebraska-Omaha is coached by Derrin Hansen, who is in his sixth season with the program. He has a career record of 97-63 at the helm of the red and white.
Up Next:
Following its longest road trip of the year, Truman will return home for three straight home games. The Bulldogs kick off the week-long stretch in Kirksville with a Saturday (Jan. 8) night contest with Northwest Missouri State. Tip-off against the Bearcats (3-7, 1-5 MIAA) is set for 7:30 pm in Pershing Arena.
