Men's Basketball Game 2 Notes: vs. Upper Iowa

Game 2: Truman (0-1) vs. Upper Iowa (1-0)

Date: Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012
Time: 7:00 pm CT
Location: Kirksville, Mo. || Pershing Arena
Radio: 104.7 KRES-FM (Moberly, Mo.) || Listen Online
Video: Watch Online
Live Stats: Regular || Mobile
Game Notes: Truman || Upper Iowa || MIAA
Statistics: Truman || Upper Iowa || MIAA
Social Media: @TrumanAthletics

Opening Tip:
After opening the 2012-13 season with a hard-fought five-point loss to NAIA nationally-ranked William Penn, the Truman men's basketball team hits the hardwood on Wednesday (Nov. 14) night to face Upper Iowa at 7:00 pm in Pershing Arena.

The Bulldogs will be facing its second straight opponent from Iowa before traveling to Indiana State for an exhibition contest this Saturday.

Probable Starters:
G – #1 – EJ Hicks – 6'3” – 180 – SR – 13.0 ppg | 6.0 rpg | 1.0 apg
G – #2 – Seth Jackson – 6'3” – 200 – SO – 9.0 ppg | 1.0 rpg | 2.0 apg
F – #5 – Mike Carlson – 6'9” – 200 – JR – 27.0 ppg | 6.0 rpg | 1.0 apg
G – #11 – Cole Myers – 6'3” – 190 – FR – 3.0 ppg | 4.0 rpg | 1.0 apg
C – #21 – Marek Bush – 6'6” – 245 – JR – 5.0 ppg | 10.0 rpg | 0.0 apg

Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Matt Woodley
Career Record: 8-21 || .276 || 2^nd season
At Truman: Same
MIAA: 5-15 || .250
Assistant Coaches: Todd Lorensen (2^nd season), Matt Fitzpatrick (2^nd season)

Series Notes vs. Upper Iowa:
Series Record: Truman leads 4-1
Last Meeting: UIU 75, TSU 68 (11/26/11 || Fayette, Iowa)
Series Streak: Upper Iowa W-1
Record in Kirksville: Truman leads 1-0
Series Streak in Kirksville: Truman W-1
Woodley vs. Upper Iowa: 0-1

Bulldogs Picked 12^th in MIAA Preseason Poll:
Truman was picked to finish 12^th by the regional media and 13^th by league coaches in the 2012-13 unveiling of the MIAA basketball preseason polls. The Bulldogs earned 54 points in the coaches' poll, trailing Missouri Western for 12^th, but traded places with the Griffons in the media poll, earning 89 total points.

Washburn picked up the top spot in both polls, with Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri ranking second and third in each as well.

New Year, Familiar Faces:
The Bulldogs are coming off a 2011-12 season that saw them graduate just one senior, meaning all five starters and eight total letterwinners return this year. Truman brings back 92.6% of its scoring, 87.3% of its rebounding and 98.5% of its total assists in 2012-13.

Included in that is the returning MIAA Freshman of the Year, Seth Jackson, who also earned all-conference accolades alongside then-junior teammate Tom Norton. While Jackson is a projected starter this season, Norton will be taking a redshirt this season to recover from an off-season injury, returning for his senior season in 2013-14.

Five Peas in an MIAA Pod:
For the 2012-13 season, the MIAA will be invoking a “pod” system for basketball scheduling, resulting in 18 league matches for all 15 of the conference's schools. While all 15 teams will fall under set of standings with no delineation between pods, Truman will play Central Missouri, Lincoln, Southwest Baptist and newcomer-Lindenwood and Southwest Baptist twice each as part of one five-team grouping.

Emporia State, Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State will join with newcomers Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State as a second pod, while Northwest Missouri, Missouri Western, Washburn and Fort Hays will align with the final newcomer, Nebraska-Kearney, in a third pod.

At the end of the season, the top 12 teams will compete for the MIAA men's basketball championship. First-round games will be played on Monday, March 4 on campus sites with the top-4 teams and the first-round winners advancing to Kansas City for the remainder of the tournament as usual.

Bulldogs Displaying Their New “I.D.”:
An improved defense highlighted head coach Matt Woodley's first season along the sidelines, as the Bulldogs surrendered 4.4 fewer points per game on average from the previous season, as well as held opponents to the lowest shooting percentage since the 2007-2008 year.

Last Time Out:
November 9, 2012 – William Penn 83, Truman 78
Mike Carlson scored 27 points and EJ Hicks added 13, but the Truman men's basketball team fell 83-78 in its 2012-13 season-opener to NAIA-No. 19 William Penn (Iowa).

Carlson's 27 led all players, coming on 11-of-23 (3-of-5 3FG; 2-2 FT) shooting, with Hicks (13) and Cory Myers (10 points, five assists) also reaching double-figures. Playing just 10 minutes due to foul trouble, Seth Jackson scored nine points, followed by seven from Isaac Gardner. Marek Bush led all Bulldogs with 10 rebounds, as Truman was limited to just seven offensive rebounds in the contest.

The 'Dogs shot 44.4% (28-for-63) overall, including a 6-for-18 (33.3%) mark from long range.

Nailbiters for the Bulldogs:
Truman had 13 of its 28 games last season finish within six or fewer points, with the Bulldogs going 3-10 in those affairs. Not included in that was a double-overtime loss (seven points) as well as a seven-point home win against Emporia State.

Bulldog Tip-Ins:

Truman shot 42.1% from the field as a team in 2011-12, including a 35.3% mark from three-point range.
The 'Dogs got to the free throw line an average of 22.3 times per game last season, but connected at just a 66% rate.
The Bulldogs had six different players lead them in scoring last season, led by Jackson's team-high 10 times.
Truman had 12 20-point individual scoring outbursts last season, with Norton and Jackson each doing so three times.

Scouting the Peacocks:
Upper Iowa, a member of the Div. II Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, picked up a 68-60 win against future-GLVC foe William Jewell in its season opener on Nov. 11. The Peacocks outscored WJC 43-27 in the second half in what doubled as UIU's home opener.

Three players scored in double-figures for the Peacocks, led by Sam Elgin's 15 points and eight rebounds. Jake Hughes hit a pair of threes on his way to 12 points, with Bo Pagel adding 10. UIU shot 42%, held WJC to 40% and connected on 20-of-28 free throws to seal the game.

Brian Dolan is in his seventh season as the head coach at UIU. Last season, the Bulldogs went into the half tied at 32 but couldn't overcome a 53% shooting performance in the second half by the Peacocks in a 75-68 loss in Fayette. EJ Hicks scored 17, Mike Carlson added 11, and Isaac Gardner scored nine off the bench for the 'Dogs.

Up Next:
The Bulldogs will travel to Div. I Indiana State this Saturday for a 1:05 pm tipoff with the Sycamores. From there, Truman will get back to Kirksville for a 7:00 pm tipoff next Monday (Nov. 19) night against Central Christian before a 7:30 pm tip at Quincy on Tuesday, Nov. 20.

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