MARYVILLE, Mo.—The Truman Men's Basketball team sought their fifth straight win as they wrapped up the calendar year 2019 against the second ranked Northwest Missouri State Bearcats. During the first half the Bearcats shot over 50% from the floor to take a 17 point lead into the intermission and from there held on for an 81-66 victory.
Early on in the first half, the Bulldogs held a lead. Alex McQuinn got the scoring started with a layup and Turner Scott drained a three leading to a 7-5 lead for the Bulldogs in the first two minutes of the game. Later on with the score tied at 12, Scott gave the Bulldogs a two point lead; but from there the Bearcats would take control. A 15-4 run gave the hosts a 27-18 lead which would eventually stretch into double digits. A three by Luke TerHark with 3:53 left in the half brought Truman back within single digits at 38-30 but TSU would not score again in the half. A 9-0 run by NWMSU closed the half and made it 47-30 in favor of the Bearcats at the half.
In the second half, NWMSU expanded their lead to as many as 28. Down 76-48 with 7:29 to go, the Bulldogs went on a 10-0 run, culminated in back to back threes from McQuinn and Hunter Strait. With 4:38 to go, the Bulldogs had a glimmer of hope. But the Bearcats went back up by 20 with 3:18 to go, and from there would see out the game with a 15 point win.
Brodric Thomas led the team with 13 points, one of four Bulldogs in double figures—McQuinn, Scott and Strait all had ten points each.
The Bulldogs will resume their GLVC slate on January 2nd as they take on William Jewell and then follow with Rockhurst on the 4th.
