Tournament Central

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Playing as a two seed in the conference tournament for the first time ever, the Truman State University men's basketball team didn't let the history stop there. Friday inside SIUE's Vadalabene Center for the quarterfinal round of the GLVC Tournament, the Bulldogs scored their most-ever points in regulation of a postseason game as they destroyed seventh-seeded Lewis, 103-56. The only time the Purple and White put up more points in a postseason showing was on March 17, 1999 in a 106-101, triple-overtime victory over St. Rose (N.Y.).

Truman (19-9) now advances to the semifinals of the GLVC Tournament for the second-straight year after failing to do so in its first three as a member of the league. On the other side, Lewis' four-game winning streak is snapped and its season comes to an end with an overall record of 15-14. Not only did the Bulldogs move on to Saturday, but they avenged last season's loss to the Flyers in the semifinal round in Evansville, Ind., 85-75. Friday's game marked the first time Lewis has given up at least 100 points in a game since 2008.

Even more history, the 103 points for Truman matches the third-highest scoring output in the league's postseason event and the second-most in a regulation contest, while the 47-point margin of victory set a new GLVC standard.

Brodric Thomas (pictured) and Jake Velky each scored a game-high 23 points as Thomas was 10-of-12 from the field and Velky went 7-for-11. Thomas also led the team in rebounds (7) and blocks (3) while Velky was the ringleader in assists (6). Behind those two, three more Bulldogs scored in double-figures including Zach Fischer (13), Turner Scott (10) and Jacob Socha (10) off the bench. Fischer managed only four rebounds, his fewest of the season, but dished out two assists and was on top of the steals department with three.

Truman's offense ran like that of a well-oiled machine as it assisted on 23 of its 37 field goals (62.2 percent), seven of the 10 players that got on the court registered multiple assists, eight of the 10 had at least one, and it converted on an absurd 64.9 percent (37-of-57) of its field goal attempts. From behind the arc, the Purple and White cashed in on 56.5 percent (13-for-23) of their looks and that mark is good for 10th in school history. Truman must like playing against Lewis, because the two times that it has eclipsed 60 percent from the floor this season, the Flyers were the opponent (62.7 percent on Jan. 6).

Looking even deeper into the team head-to-head, Truman held a severe advantage in field goals made (37-21), three-pointers made (13-3), field goal percentage (64.9-35.6), three-point field goal percentage (56.5-13.6), assists (23-7), fewest turnovers (8-17), points off turnovers (25-11), and points in the paint (44-26). In the second half alone, the Bulldogs made 22 of their 30 shots (73.3 percent) and eight of their 10 looks from long range.

Out of the gate, Lewis scored the game's first six points before Truman got its feet back and scored 26 of the next 30 to go up by 16, 26-10, at the 9:09 mark. Less than four minutes later, a Fischer layup gave the Bulldogs their biggest first-half lead of 17, 35-18. From there until the intermission, the closest the Flyers could get was 11, 38-27, before the halftime margin of 15, 42-27. In the second half alone, Truman outscored Lewis by 32, 61-29, and never left it in doubt.

Next up, the Bulldogs will face the No. 3 seed, Drury (21-6), on Saturday in the semifinals with tip set for 6 p.m. The Panthers swept the season series with wins of 98-96 in Kirksville and 88-71 in Springfield.

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