Box Score | Season Stats

KIRKSVILLE - - The Truman men's basketball team had two looks in the final eight seconds, but neither could find pay-dirt, as the Pittsburg State Gorillas snuck out of Pershing Arena with a 58-56 win against the Bulldogs on Wednesday night.

Senior Ethan Freeman (Urbandale, Iowa, Urbandale) notched his eighth double-double of the season, leading the 'Dogs with 12 points and 17 rebounds. Over the past four games, Freeman is averaging 12.5 points and 13.0 rebounds per game, including setting the first- and second-highest rebounding totals in the MIAA this season.

The largest lead for either team on the night was a mere eight points, with the teams totaling 11 first-half ties on the way to a 36-32 PSU (11-6, 7-6 MIAA) lead at the break. Eight different Bulldogs inked the scorebook in the first half, with Freeman's seven leading the way. The squads shot an equal 42% from the floor and hit two three-pointers apiece.

For the second 20 minutes, both teams exhibited stellar defense, as the two squads combined for 15 second-half field goals and just 27% shooting. After falling behind by eight, 47-39, at the 12:02 mark of the second half, Truman (5-12, 3-10 MIAA) ratcheted up the intensity on the defensive end, holding Pitt State to just three points over the next six and a half minutes to cut the deficit to three, 50-47, with 5:36 to play.

But for every Bulldog rally, the Gorillas found an answer, never letting Truman take the lead the rest of the way. An Alex Henderson (Willard, Mo., Willard) three-pointer off a screen cut Pitt's lead to 56-54 with 2:56 left, but neither team could find what it was looking for down the stretch, as the Gorillas failed to make a basket in the final 4:49 and Truman finished 0-for-6 from the floor in the last three minutes.

The Bulldogs shot 32% from the floor (15-for-47) for the game and 3-for-11 from long-distance. Truman stayed in the game behind a strong effort from the charity stripe, converting 23-of-30 (77%), while Pitt State went just 9-for-18. The Gorillas shot 37% (23-for-62) from the floor and 3-for-14 from three-point land.

Freeman's 12 tied the game-high by any player, as the MIAA's leading rebounder yanked down 17 to help the 'Dogs neutralize PSU's statistical edge on the glass entering the night, coming up with a 40-38 advantage. Henderson and Vesko Filchev added nine points apiece, with Filchev swatting three shots as part of Truman's season-high seven on the night. Stefan Garrison (Osceola, Mo., Osceola) added seven and a pair of assists, while Brian Nwelue (Lewisville, Texas, Lewisville) scored six and also rejected three Gorilla attempts.

Truman hits the road this weekend for a rare Sunday afternoon contest, traveling to Emporia (Kan.) State for a 3:00 pm tilt on Jan. 30.