ROMEOVILLE, Ill.—The Truman State Men's Basketball team opened their title defense Friday with a 86-65 victory over the Lewis Flyers. The game was tightly contested most of the game, but a 9-0 run in the middle of the second half put the Bulldogs up 56-47 and a 12-1 run over the last 3:31 of the game pulled Truman away for the 86-65 victory.
Second team All-GLVC Cade McKnight led the way with 18 points for Truman and Dylan Peeters had a double-double with 10 points and 12 boards. True freshman Masen Miller was second on the team with 15 points in his first career game and second with 32 minutes played.
Trevian Bell led all scorers with 21 points for the Flyers and Beau Frericks scored 19.
McKnight got Truman on the board just over a minute into the game with a bucket, and Miller followed with a triple to give the Bulldogs a 5-0 lead. Lewis would get the next six to take the lead and the teams went back and forth for most of the half. With Truman up 14-12, Miller drained another three and then following a make from the foul line by Miller and a layup by Alex McQunn; Truman led 20-12. Lewis fought back to tie the game at 24, and then took a 27-26 lead after a three pointer by Frericks. Hunter Strait made two from the foul line to put the Bulldogs back in the lead, and then Miller put Truman up 31-27 but Frericks made a three at the buzzer to answer and make it 31-30 heading into the intermission.
Elijah Hazekamp opened the second half scoring with a layup for Truman to put the Bulldogs up by three. Lewis would come back to grab a 36-35 lead, but a triple from Hazekamp at the 16:48 mark put Truman back in the lead. At the 15:32 mark a layup by Bell put Lewis up 43-40, but four straight free throws from Hazekamp put Truman back on top as it began a 14-4 run for the Bulldogs. Turner Scott capped off the run with a three pointer to give Truman a 54-47 lead with 11:23 to go. Lewis would not get closer than five the rest of the game as Truman pulled away for the victory.
Six Bulldogs reached double figures—McKnight (18), Miller (15), Scott (13), Hazekamp (12), Strait (11) and Peeters (10). Freshman guard Josh Ollendieck recorded a steal in his first career game.
The Bulldogs will go to Indianapolis to take on the Greyhounds Sunday afternoon in what is slated for a 3:15 tip off, Eastern Time.