KIRKSVILLE, Mo.--The Truman Men's Basketball team once again found itself in a tight game at the end, but as has been the case for the last 11 games in this one the third ranked Bulldogs found a way to win once again as they outlasted the Rockhurst Hawks 81-76.
Masen Miller led the way with 23 points, his highest scoring game since scoring 25 at UMSL on December 5. His five three pointers led the team.
Dylan Peeters got his ninth double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Elijah Hazekamp also reached double figures with 13,
Turner Scott had 11 and nine assists, and
Owen Coburn had his second double figure game as a Bulldog with ten points.
The Hawks jumped out to an early lead at 10-4, but a 6-0 run by Truman knotted the score at ten. Hazekamp made back to back jumpers and Miller made his first basket of the game to draw even. Truman took its first lead at the 6:49 mark of the half as
Cade McKnight made a three point shot to put the Bulldogs up 18-17. Coburn made a layup to put Truman up three, but Rockhurst would battle back and take the lead again, and the teams seesawed back and forth the rest of the half. Nick Volz gave Rockhurst a 25-22 lead at the 1:41 mark, but
Keaton Mitchell got the last basket of the half to draw the Bulldogs within one at 25-24 going into the intermission.
Miller opened the scoring in the second half with a three pointer to give the Bulldogs the lead at 27-25. After Rockhurst tied it up, Hazekamp drained a three on the other end. Chris Hamil answered on the other end of the Hawks to tie it up again at 30 each. After a Hazekamp three at 16:18 and layup by Coburn at 15:38, Truman had a little breathing room at 37-32. With 12:44 to go, Thomas Faber made two from the line to put the Hawks back within a possesion at 40-37. But Miller answered with another three to restore a six point lead. Hamil answered with back to back threes for Rockhurst to tie the game, and Hazekamp answered with another three to go up 46-43 with 10:42 to go. With 7:03 to go, Peeters made a layup that started a 7-0 run for Truman to push the lead to double digits at 65-54. Truman held off an advance from Rockhurst over the next few minutes and retained a ten point lead with 3:00 to go.
Nick Volz hit two fould shots and a three point play from Curtis Lewis drew the Hawks within five with 1:09 to go. With 18 seconds to go, Volz pulled Rockhurst within two at 75-73.
Turner Scott hit two foul shots to restore a four point lead, but Hamil answered with a three to make it 77-76 with 11 seconds to play. Playing the foul strategy, the Hawks send McKnight to the line where he made two shots. A miss from three point range on the other end force the Hawks to foul Miller and he hit two shots to close the game and seal the win.
On Senior Night,
Jake Messer and
Mark Rogers got the starts and Rogers was credited with one board.
The Bulldogs will wrap up the regular season on Saturday at home against Southwest Baptist. The Bearcats are 15-5 after defeating Quincy Thursday night.
