Norton Goes for 29 but #16 Southern Escapes in Thriller

Box Score | Season Stats
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - - Junior guard Tom Norton (Bloomington, Ill., Central Catholic) put on a shooting show on Saturday afternoon in Pershing Arena, draining a career-best eight three-pointers, but the Truman men's basketball team couldn't take down 16^th-ranked Missouri Southern and fell 80-74.

Norton, whose eight triples came up one shy of Truman's all-time single-game high and marked the most by any Bulldog in more than 20 years, finished with a career-high 29 points. His eighth three-pointer gave Truman (5-13, 3-8 MIAA) what would prove to be its final lead, giving the squad a 71-70 advantage with 1:47 to play in the ball game. However, MSSU's Jason Adams would score four straight on a pair of free throws and a breakaway dunk to give the No. 16 Lions (16-3, 8-3 MIAA) a three-point lead with 1:13 to go.

EJ Hicks (Davenport, Iowa, Davenport Central) hit one of two free throws before Keane Thomann scored the final two of his team-high 29 points as the shot clock wound down to put the Lions ahead 76-72.

Norton and Patrick Hester exchanged free throws, but Norton's quest for a ninth triple wouldn't fall with 11 seconds to play, sealing it for MSSU. Adams sunk a pair of free throws for the 80-74 final.

The two teams played a tight game throughout as neither team led by double-figures at any point in the game. The contest featured seven ties and seven lead changes with a combined 51 fouls between the squads. For the game, Truman shot 36% (20-for-55) from the field and hit 11-of-28 three-pointers. The 11 triples were the most in an MIAA game by the Bulldogs this season, and 23 made free throws by the 'Dogs also marked the highest total of the season for the team.

Norton's 29, the top mark by any Bulldog this season, led three players in double-figures, as Hicks and freshman Seth Jackson (St. Louis, Mo., CBC) each added 11 points. The Bulldogs out-rebounded MSSU 41-33 with a 14-10 edge on the offensive glass.

Marek Bush (Kansas City, Mo., Lincoln Prep) led the 'Dogs with six boards, while Hicks' four assists were also a team-high.

Thomann's 29 points were paired with a team-high eight rebounds, while both Patrick Hester (16) and Jason Adams (13) also finished in double-figures. MSSU shot 46% for the game and went 24-for-33 from the charity stripe.

Truman returns to action on Wednesday night when it travels to Pittsburg State (11-7, 7-4 MIAA) to try and pick up a season sweep. The Bulldogs defeated PSU 66-57 in Kirksville on Dec. 3.

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