NORMAL, Ill.—The Truman Men's Basketball team opened the 2019-20 season Wednesday night at Illinois State, a Division I opponent from the Missouri Valley Conference. The Bulldogs shot 5.1.5% from the field in the first half to take a 39-26 lead into the intermission, but would ultimately fall 74-68.
Last year's leading scorer, Brodric Thomas, led the way in the first half with 15 points on 6-9 shooting. Turner Scott played 19 minutes in the half and added 12 points. After falling down 5-2, Truman went on a 9-0 run—with Thomas scoring the last seven points in the run. Truman would expand their lead to double digits at 18-7 following a layup by Mark Rogers. The Bulldogs would lead by as many as 14 in the half as they limited Illinois State to just 30.3% shooting. Scott made two three pointers in the half, Thomas knocked down the other from beyond the arc.
After Cade McKnight got the opening basket of the season half, Truman led 41-26; 15 points being their largest lead of the game. But ISU would gradually chip away at the lead until drawing even at 50 just over midway through the half. With just over five minutes to go, ISU took the lead at 59-57, which set up a nail biting finish. Truman briefly took the lead back at 66-65 following a three pointer by Hunter Strait with just over two to go. But a 9-0 run for ISU sealed the game.
Overall, Truman shot 45% from the field and drained five three pointers. Thomas led the team with 21 points, Scott had 14 and McKnight got into double digits with 11. The Bulldogs will open the regular season November 8 at Findlay for the GLVC/G-MAC challenge.