Bulldogs Rally on Senior Night to Stay Alive

Box Score | Season Stats
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The Truman men's basketball team kept its 2011-12 season alive on Wednesday night, overcoming an early 16-point deficit to eventually cruise past Lincoln University 74-57 in Pershing Arena. Mike Carlson logged a double-double off the bench, as the Bulldogs' quest for the MIAA's No. 8 seed continues to Saturday.

Truman (8-19, 5-14 MIAA) moved into a tie for 8^th-place in the league with Emporia State on Wednesday, with Saturday's regular season finale at Central Missouri serving as a must-win game for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs put themselves in a deep hole, as another fast start from Lincoln (4-21, 4-15 MIAA) propelled the Blue Tigers to a 24-8 lead less than six minutes into the game. However, from there, it was all Truman, as the Bulldogs chipped away during the final 14 minutes of the first half to eventually take a two-point lead into the intermission at 38-36.

Truman built the margin to seven right away out of the gate in the second half, never letting Lincoln get within three the rest of the way. The Bulldogs eventually opened a double-digit lead with 11:36 to play and led by as many as 19 with less than two minutes to go.

Freshman Seth Jackson led the 'Dogs with 15 points, including a 9-for-9 effort from the free throw line, while Carlson added 14 points and 13 rebounds off the bench on 6-of-8 shooting. Isaac Gardner scored 11 first-half points behind three triples to help spark the Bulldog comeback, and EJ Hicks finished with nine points, five rebounds and a team-high four assists.

The 'Dogs shot 46% from the field, including a 7-for-20 mark from three-point range. In addition, Truman overcame its free throw woes, hitting 15-of-17 for an 88% clip.

Truman's lone senior, Vesko Filchev, closed his home Bulldog career with a six-point, six-rebound outing in 13 minutes.

The Bulldogs will meet Central Missouri (18-7, 14-5 MIAA) on Saturday in Warrensburg at 3:30 pm, needing a win to reach the MIAA tournament as the No. 8 seed. Currently, Truman loses a tiebreaker to ESU should both lose on Saturday (ESU visits Fort Hays State), but Truman would win a tiebreaker against ESU should both win. Game notes for Saturday's game will be posted online on Thursday afternoon.

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