Box Score | Season Stats

KIRKSVILLE - - Senior Ethan Freeman came up just three points shy of what would have been Truman's first triple-double in 16 years, but his 15 rebounds and career-high ten assists helped the Bulldog men's basketball team open a three-game homestand with a 73-58 victory against Northwest Missouri State.

Three Bulldogs scored in double-figures, led by senior Alex Henderson's 19, as Truman (4-8, 2-6 MIAA) shot 47% and led from the 2:56 mark of the first half the rest of the way to defeat the visiting Bearcats (4-8, 2-6 MIAA). The Bulldogs opened up a 17-point lead in the second half and only let the margin dip below double-figures three times, and never less than eight.

Northwest held a six-point advantage at 20-14 with 7:03 left in the opening half before the Bulldogs rattled off a 15-2 run to close the half and take a 31-22 lead into the break. The 'Dogs then continued to press the accelerator from there, scoring 12 of the first 16 points of the second half to lead 42-26 just four minutes in.

But the Bearcats kept the fans' interest, cutting the purple and white lead to just eight, 53-45, with 7:25 to play, but clutch shooting by the 'Dogs combined with a handful of defensive stops helped keep it a three-possession game the rest of the way. Truman also hit 18-of-21 free throws in the second half, including 13-of-15 in the final five minutes to seal the team's fourth win of the year and remain just two games back of a five-team tie for fifth in the MIAA.

Henderson's 19 led a Truman attack that hit 47% of its field goals, including 6-of-13 from long-range and 23-of-28 from the stripe. Junior Vesko Filchev added 18, and freshman Pat Sodemann notched a career-best 12 behind a pair of three's and a 4-for-4 night at the line.

Backed by Freeman's 15 rebounds (14 defensive), the 'Dogs met the Bearcats in rebounding, 35-35, while out-assisting Northwest, 17-10, behind Freeman's ten. The Bulldogs also swatted five shots, while avoiding any deflections against them.

Shaneel Narayan led Northwest with 22 points, while Elijah Allen added 14.

The Bulldogs return to action for the middle game of this current three-game homestand on Wednesday night when Missouri Western (4-4 MIAA) visits Pershing Arena for a 7:30 pm tipoff. Admission is free for the full homestand as construction continues in Pershing Arena and the surrounding area.