Truman men’s basketball pairs four returners with 11 newcomers

The Truman State men’s basketball team will combine four returning players with 11 newcomers this season, according to Truman State Athletics.

The Bulldogs finished 12-16 overall and 9-11 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play last season. They averaged 77.0 points per game and shot 46.2 percent from the field.

Head coach Mike Worley and his staff rebuilt the roster with transfers who have competed at the NCAA Division I, Division II, NAIA and junior college levels, along with three freshmen. “This roster was exciting to build and is full of high-character, low-ego guys who are serious about basketball along with high academic achievement,” Worley said, according to Truman State Athletics.

Junior center Quientan McCafferty leads the four returners after appearing in 24 games with 11 starts last season. He averaged 6.4 points and 4.4 rebounds. Junior guard/forward Marquis Carver-Smith averaged 6.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 22 games, and sophomores Mason Carroll and Darin Donalds also return. Truman must replace its top five scorers.

Newcomers include junior guard Roy Henderson III, a First Team All-NJCAA Region 2 selection at Eastern Oklahoma State College who averaged 18.0 points and 4.1 assists, and redshirt junior forward Pete Moe II, a Second Team All-NJCAA Region 2 selection at National Park College who led the region with 636 points. Freshmen Ethan Taylor, William Mpata and Chance Lorenz also joined the roster.

Truman was picked to tie Lincoln for 11th in the GLVC preseason coaches’ poll with 64 points. McKendree was picked first with 190 points.

The Bulldogs play an exhibition at Missouri State on Friday, Nov. 6, and open the regular season against Delta State at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at Pershing Arena. GLVC play begins Saturday, Nov. 28, when Truman hosts Missouri S&T at 3 p.m.