TOPEKA, Kan. - The Truman State University men's basketball team led Washburn for a second and final time at 7-6 with 13:45 to play in the first half. The Ichabods then embarked on a 21-2 run that lasted over six minutes and gave them their biggest lead of the game at 18, 27-9. From that point on, the Bulldogs could never quite get back into it before dropping a 12-point decision, 73-61.

Truman is still in search of its first win under head coach, Jeff Horner, at 0-4 while Washburn (3-1) has opened a six-game homestand with back-to-back victories.

Tuesday night, the Bulldogs were led by a resurgent Nathan Messer (pictured) and his game-high 21 points. That marks the eighth 20-point game of Messer's career, but first since Jan. 13, 2018 at Rockhurst, which was 19 games ago for the St. Louis native. Turner Scott also reached double-figures for the fifth-straight game (dating back to last season) with 14, 12 of which came in the first half. Those two combined for 35 points, nine more than the other eight Bulldogs that played, combined.

Both of Truman's leads, 3-2 and 7-6, came in the first six minutes and change before the massive Washburn run. Once it was 27-9, Olawale Odofin, Messer and Turner (x2) converted layups to cut the deficit to 10, 27-17. From there until the end of the half, the Ichabods outscored the Bulldogs by four, 16-12, to head into the locker room with a 14-point advantage, 43-29.

Out of the intermission, Truman rattled off seven-straight points to pull within seven, 43-36, before Washburn's Tyler Geiman answered with a three-pointer at the other end. Messer then came right back down with a triple to keep the margin at seven, 46-39, with just over 16 minutes left in the game. Once the Ichabods pushed their lead back to 12, 51-39, Messer hit a jumper followed by a layup from both Nikola Pesic and Jacob Socha that made it a six-point contest, 51-45. The Purple and White would not get that close again until it was 62-56 at the 3:54 mark, but an 11-3 run by the home team put it out of reach.

Next up for Truman is Northern State's Dacotah Bank Thanksgiving Classic on Friday and Saturday. The Bulldogs will face the 18th-ranked Wolves followed by Sioux Falls, who also received votes in this week's NABC top 25 poll.

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