Strong Second Half Sends Bulldogs to 3-0

FINAL: Truman 87, Cameron (Okla.) 67 || Box Score
2013-14 Schedule || 2013-14 Season Stats || Career Stats (active players)
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - - Senior Mike Carlson scored 32 points, including 18 during a 50-point second half by the team, as the Bulldog men's basketball team trounced Cameron (Okla.) 87-67 on the first day of the Comfort Inn/Drury Panthers Thanksgiving Classic in Springfield's O'Reilly Family Events Center.

Carlson was nearly unstoppable on the afternoon, hitting 13-of-22 field goals – including 5-of-10 from three-point range – while grabbing eight rebounds and adding a block for the Bulldogs, who moved to 3-0 on the season. He scored 11 of Truman's first 18 points on the afternoon, as Truman bounded out to a quick 18-9 lead on the Aggies (3-3) through the game's first five minutes.

CU would answer Truman's fast start; however, as the Aggies rebounded with a 15-0 run of their own to take what would be its largest lead of the day at 24-18 with 8:56 to play in the opening half.

Truman fought back, regaining the lead on a Seth Jackson jumper with 2:42 on the first half clock before taking a 37-36 lead into the intermission behind a pair of Kyle Kanaskie free throws with 39 seconds to play.

The game would remain tight through the first eight minutes of the second half, as Truman led just 55-52 before hitting the gas and creating separation behind a 16-4 run capped by a Jackson old-fashioned three-point play at the 7:40 mark. The 73-56 lead would balloon to as much as 21 points with just less than two minutes to play before the Bulldogs coasted to the 87-67 final.

Carlson's 32 points and eight rebounds came in 37 minutes of action, while Jackson (13 points, nine rebounds), Reed Mells (13 points, six assists) and Andrew Vander Zwaag (12 points) also finished in double-figures offensively. Truman shot 49% for the game (32-of-66) overall, including a 10-for-32 mark (31%) from three-point range. The Bulldogs also made the most of their charity stripe chances, hitting 13-of-16 (81%) from the line.

Truman turned the ball over just six times on the afternoon and converted 12 Aggie miscues into 14 points on the scoring end. The Bulldogs also out-rebounded CU 36-33, including a 7-3 edge on the offensive glass.

The Bulldogs close the two-day tournament with a match-up against former MIAA-rival Northwest Missouri State on Saturday (Nov. 30) at 1 p.m.

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