KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - Brodric Thomas (pictured in white), the league's fifth-leading scorer, poured in 35 points, the most by a Bulldog inside Pershing Arena since 2014 (Mike Carlson's 40 vs. Quincy), but it wasn't enough as the Truman State University men's basketball team lost its fifth game in a row. Maryville's Casey Teson (pictured in black), the GLVC's fourth-leading scorer, answered Thomas with 38 points of his own, including 27 in the second half, as the Saints escaped with an 85-78 win on Saturday afternoon.

Truman (8-10, 3-5 GLVC) has lost five games in a row for the first time since 2010 and snapped a seven-game winning streak vs. Maryville (8-3 in all-time series). Meanwhile, Maryville (7-10, 2-6 GLVC) picked up just its second true road win of the season, both of which have come in the last four games.

Those 35 points for Thomas are a new career high and they went with seven rebounds, three blocks (ties Truman best), two assists, and a steal in 29 minutes. Also scoring in double-figures for the Bulldogs were Cade McKnight with 11 and Hunter Strait with 10. Strait scored at least 10 points for the second time this season and the first time since 26 vs. Central Christian. Turner Scott led the team in assists with four while Nathan Messer and Strait each paced the squad in steals with two apiece.

Maryville burned the nets on 56 percent (28-of-50) shooting including a red-hot 66.7 percent (16-for-24) in the second half. During Truman's five-game skid, four of the opponents have shot at least 50 percent from the field. That only happened five times in the Bulldogs' 13 games before that. The Saints also cashed in on 69.2 percent (9-of-13) of their three-point looks, the best mark for a Truman opponent in six years (72.2 percent by Central Oklahoma on Jan. 10, 2013). Truman outrebounded its opponent for the fourth time this season and was 3-0 in those games prior to Saturday.

In the beginning, Maryville scored first with a layup and led by as many as three (5-2 and 7-4) in the opening minutes. Once it was 7-4, Truman responded by scoring 18 of the next 23 points to take its biggest lead of the game at 10, 22-12. During that run, Strait tallied eight points while Messer and Thomas each had five. From there until halftime, the Saints cut it to as close as one (35-34 and 37-36) before the Bulldogs went into the locker room up three, 39-36. Prior to this weekend, the Purple and White were 6-0 when leading at the break, but lost on both Thursday and Saturday after a halftime advantage.

Out of the intermission, Truman stretched its lead to as big as nine (51-42 and 53-44), but Maryville rattled off nine-straight points for the first of eight second-half ties. The second period also carried 11 of the day's 12 lead changes. Until the closing minutes, Truman's biggest lead was three (66-63 and 68-65) while Maryville's largest was four (59-55). The Bulldogs' final advantage came with 1:54 left and they were up 77-76 thanks to a triple from Thomas, his final points of the game.

On the other end, Teson made a pair of free throws before McKnight converted one of two at the line for the game's ninth and final tie, 78-78, with just over a minute to go. On the Saints' next possession, Chaz Glotta, who has attempted the second-most three-pointers in the GLVC, splashed one in from the left wing to give Maryville the lead for good, 81-78. Thomas missed a three-point attempt back on the other end and the Saints put the game on ice with four-straight freebies.

Next up, Truman will stay at home to take on Illinois Springfield on Thursday, Jan. 24 and tip is set for 7:30 p.m.

#BewareOfDog