Men's Basketball 12/28/2011 3:05:00 PM Tyler Madsen, Truman Athletics

Men's Basketball Notes: #9 Fort Hays State

#9 Fort Hays State (9-1, 3-1 MIAA) @ Truman (4-8. 2-3 MIAA)

Monday, Jan. 2, 3:00 pm
Pershing Arena; Kirksville, Mo.

Audio: 104.7 FM – KRES (Moberly, Mo.); Also streamed online at CentralMOInfo.com
Video: http://www.b2livetv.com/partner_members.asp?id=295
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/truman/mbball/index.htm

PDF Notes

Game Preview:
Following more than two weeks away from the court, the Truman men's basketball team kicks off the 2012 calendar with a 3:00 pm showdown on Monday, Jan. 2 against 9^th-ranked Fort Hays (Kan.) State.

The Bulldogs have had 15 calendar days to rebound from a 60-59 heartbreaking loss at Emporia State on Dec. 17. Truman came back from a nine-point deficit midway through the second half to lead by four with 12 seconds to play. However, ESU hit a three-pointer, then scored at the buzzer to cap a quick 5-0 blitz and saddle the 'Dogs with their second straight league defeat.

Truman will face a Fort Hays State squad that's out to a 9-1 start, propelling them to a No. 9 ranking in the nation's top-25 poll. FHSU won two straight before the holiday break, most recently picking up an 83-64 home win against Northwest Missouri State on Dec. 17.

With the Tigers having just entered the MIAA prior to the 2006-2007 season, the all-time series has been rather short between the squads. FHSU, behind seven straight victories, holds a 9-3 lead overall, including a 4-1 lead in games played in Pershing Arena. The Tigers swept last year's games, winning 84-57 in Hays on Jan. 3 before overcoming a 19-point Bulldog halftime lead on Feb. 10 to win 81-74. Senior Vesko Filchev averaged 9.0 ppg and 4.5 rpg against FHSU last season, while junior Tom Norton scored 17 at home.

The Bulldogs' last win came as part of a three-game winning streak against the Tigers in the first three MIAA contests between the schools. On Jan. 9, 2008, the Bulldogs picked up a 60-49 win in Hays behind 15 points from Nick Certa, 12 points from Alex Henderson and 10 points from Banks Estridge.

Truman's only win against the Tigers in Pershing Arena was on Jan. 3, 2007, as Certa led all players with 26 points and both Austin Kirby and Andy Calmes added 13 apiece in a 70-59 Bulldog victory.

A Fast Check of the Regulars:
·       Junior guard Tom Norton is the team's leading scorer at 12.0 ppg, headlining three players in double-figures. He has made 29 triples this season and is 33-for-38 (87%) from the free throw line.
·       Redshirt freshman Mike Carlson is averaging 11.6 points and a team-high 4.3 rebounds per game. He is just one of just two players to start all 12 games and is shooting 46% from the floor. He also ranks second on the squad with eight blocks.
·       Freshman Seth Jackson, at 10.0 ppg overall, is the team's leading scorer in conference games, averaging 10.8 ppg through the first five MIAA games. He is averaging 22.1 minutes per game and is 29-for-35 (83%) from the line.
·       Junior transfer EJ Hicks is averaging 9.6 ppg and is the team's assist leader (30).
·       Sophomore Isaac Gardner has made 30 triples and is averaging 9.0 points per game.
·       Freshman Patrick Burmester has started all 12 games and is averaging 4.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg. He leads the squad with nine blocks and is shooting 52% from the floor.
·       Freshmen Andrew Vander Zwaag (4.5 ppg, ten three-pointers) and Tyler Anderson (2.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg) have missed just one game each this season.
·       Sophomore Marek Bush has played in all 12 games and is the team-leader on the offensive glass (19).

Bulldog Tip-Ins:
·       The Bulldogs are 4-8 (2-3 MIAA) in 2011-12 after going 7-19 (5-17) last year.
·       Truman is shooting 44.4% from the field as a team, including a 36.6% (89-for-243) from three-point range.
·       The Bulldogs are connecting at a 70.5% (177-for-251) mark from the free throw line.
·       The Bulldogs have had six different players lead them in scoring this season.
·       Isaac Gardner became only the third player in program history to post a 1.000% mark with six (or more) three-point attempts in a single-game with his 6-for-6 night against SBU on Dec. 7.
·       The Bulldogs have had five 20-point scoring nights this season, led by Tom Norton's 27 at Grand View and Seth Jackson's 25 against Central Christian.
·       Of 60 total starts in the 12 games this season, 40 (66.7%) have been made by freshmen and 46 (76.7%) have been made by newcomers overall (Hicks + freshmen).
·       Truman held ESU to the third-fewest point total by a Bulldog opponent this season in its last game (Dec. 17; 60 points). However, the Bulldogs were held to their third-fewest point total of the season (59 points).

Scouting the Tigers:
The Fort Hays State Tigers (9-1, 3-1 MIAA) come into Monday afternoon's game having won two straight before the break following a loss at Washburn on Dec. 7. It will be just the third road game of the season for FHSU, with the Tigers posting a 2-0 mark (@UNK, @LU).

Karron McKenzie and Matt Simmons – both returners from last season – fuel the Tiger attack, with McKenzie averaging 14.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game and Simmons adding an even 9.0 points and an MIAA-leading 10.0 rebounds per contest. The Tigers also are benefiting from the return of Moses Dayee, who sat out the fall semester but returned against Northwest Missouri with a 19-point, three-assist performance.

The Tigers rank amongst the MIAA's best in scoring defense (2^nd; 59.9), field goal percentage (.494; 2^nd) and assists (16.3; 2^nd) while leading the conference in defensive rebounding percentage (.738).

Mark Johnson is in his 11^th season at FHSU, having posted a mark of 216-90 at the school.

Up Next:
The Bulldogs will be off Wednesday but will start a three-game road trip on Saturday at Northwest Missouri State. The Bearcats, also at 9-1 (3-1 MIAA), travel to Lincoln on Friday (Dec. 30) night before heading to nearby rival Missouri Western on Wednesday, Jan. 4.

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