SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Truman men's basketball team had seemingly put the game away on Thursday night as it led Illinois Springfield by as many as 24, 57-33, with just under 14 minutes to play. However, the Prairie Stars proceeded to score 34 of the next 50 points to cut the deficit to six, 73-67, with just two and a half minutes left. Then, Jake Velky put the team on his back, scored eight of the Bulldogs' final 10 points, and the good guys won by 11, 83-72.

With the win, Truman improved to 11-3 overall and 3-1 in the GLVC while Illinois Springfield is now 5-7 on the season and 0-3 in league action. Dwight Sistrunk, Jr. (pictured) tied his career high with 18 points (tied career-high six free throws made) to go with four rebounds and three assists. Those eight points for Velky were part of his 16 as the sophomore set new personal bests in rebounds (nine), blocks (two) and field-goal attempts (15) while setting a new mark in three-point field goal attempts (nine). The two other double-figure scorers for the Purple and White included Nathan Messer (13) and Billy Daniel (10) while Messer tied his career best in assists with three. Cory Myers was held to just six points but dished out a team-high four dimes.

In the beginning, the home team scored eight of the first 11 points and despite a couple ties (16-16 and 18-18), the visitors never led through the opening 13 minutes and change. The Prairie Stars led by as many as five, 23-18, with just over eight minutes on the clock before the Bulldogs began to fill it up. Truman ended the first half on a 23-4 run and then scored 11 of the first 12 points out of the intermission to put the run at 34-5 over the course of 12 minutes and nine seconds. During that stretch, eight different players found the scoring column for the Purple and White, they made 13 of their 19 attempts from the floor (68 percent) and UIS managed just one make on 18 field goal attempts (.06 percent) with five turnovers.

Illinois Springfield wasn't finished though as it used that 34-16 spurt to pull within six, 73-67, before Velky and company put the game on ice from the free throw line. Even before the margin was cut to six, Truman finished a perfect 9-of-9 at the free throw line and was 16-for-19 overall from the charity stripe. The most telling stat may have come in the paint where the Bulldogs outscored the Prairie Stars handily, 32-18. Defensively, Truman stifled Illinois Springfield's second-leading scorer, Eddie Longmeyer nearly 10 points below his season average.

Next up, the Purple and White will stay in Illinois to play at McKendree on Saturday with tip set for 3 p.m. inside the Melvin Price Convocation Center.