LIBERTY, Mo.—It was a slow start to begin the first game of 2020 for the Truman Men's Basketball team, as they made only 11 shots in the first half to enter the intermission trailing the Cardinals. But after shooting 55.2% in the second half, including 5-10 from three point range, a 47 point second half propelled the Bulldogs to a 78-63 victory.

The first half went back and forth between the two teams. Early on Truman had the advantage as they scored the first five points of the contest before WJC tied it up at seven and then the Cardinals took their first lead at 12-10 at the 15:27 mark of the half. Truman regained the lead with 9:39 to go as Brodric Thomas put the Bulldogs up 17-16, then added a free throw to complete a three point play. Up 21-20, Cade McKnight scored four points in a 6-0 run to give Truman a 27-20 lead with 7:12 to go in the half. WJC then chipped away at the lead before going back ahead 30-29 and then held on to take a 32-31 lead into the intermission.

Early in the second half with the game tied at 40, Truman went on an 18-2 run to put themselves up for good. Thomas started the run with a three pointer and scored five points in the run, which was capped by a three pointer from Sam Nissen. The Bulldogs took their biggest lead at 18 points with a layup from Hunter Strait to go up 62-44. Overall in the second half Truman made 16 of 29 shots while holding WJC to 37.1% shooting from the field in the half—and just 37.3% for the game.

Thomas had his first double-double of the season with 22 points and 12 boards. For the second game in a row four Bulldogs scored in double figures as Thomas was joined by Strait with 17, Alex McQuinn with 14 and McKnight with 11. Thomas made three treys—the team shot 8-17 (47.1%) from beyond the arc. Truman will look to keep it going Saturday afternoon as they take on Rockhurst at 3 p.m. in Kansas City.