KIRKSVILLE, Mo.—The Truman State Men's Basketball team was pushed the limit by the Quincy Hawks Sunday, but pulled out a 96-91 victory in overtime. Cade McKnight led the Bulldogs in points with 25 points, including five in the extra session. Dylan Peeters collected another double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Truman started really slowly in the first half, only shooting 14-37 from the floor (37.8%). The early going was very nip and tuck as the two teams traded the lead back and forth. With the game tied at 29 with 4:34 to go, the Hawks went on a 7-0 run and would hold the lead for the rest of the half. At the end of the frame, Jamaurie Coakley hit a half court shot to give the Hawks a 40-31 lead heading into intermission.
The second half opened with Quincy expanding their lead to double digits, but the Bulldogs were not going to go down easily. With the score 50-39 at the 17:20 mark, Truman went on an 11-2 run to pull within two at 52-50. Masen Miller made back to back threes to start the run, and McKnight hit a triple to bring the Bulldogs within two. From there it was game on, and Truman finally took back the lead at the 10:08 mark as Turner Scott hit a jumper to put Truman up 60-59. Quincy quickly took a three point lead again, and Miller buried another triple to tie it up. It was the start of eight straight for the Freshman guard, who gave Truman a 68-66 lead. Scott and Peeters got back to back buckets to give Truman a six point edge as the half ticked down. In the final two minutes of the half, Quincy rallied and a three pointer by Viktor Kovacavic tied the game at 82 and sent it into overtime.
Hunter Strait opened the extra session with a three pointer, and Truman would not trail all over overtime as they rode the second half momentum to a big win to close out 2020.
McKnight scored the most points with 25, Peeters snagged the most boards with ten, and Strait led the way with six assists. Sam Nissen recorded three steals and Peeters blocked two shots to lead the way.
Truman will be back in action January 3 at Pershing Arena against Southern Indiana.
