KIRKSVILLE, Mo.--The second ranked Truman Men's Basketball team opened their GLVC Tournament title defense Wednesday night against the 8th seeded Indianapolis Greyhounds and in a sensational back and forth game, ultimately UIndy pulled ahead at the end and hung on to down the Bulldogs 75-73. It was the first home loss for the Bulldogs in over two years--the last home defeat coming on March 2, 2019.
The first half was a rapid display of fluid basketball that didn't give those watching an opportunity to blink. Masen Miller opened with a three and from there each team went back and forth nailing shots from downtown. At 16:41, Turner Scott nailed a three pointer that put Truman up 11-9, and sent him over 1,000 career points. At the 8:41 mark of the first half, with Truman up 28-27, Elijah Hazekamp hit a three pointer that started an 8-0 run that included a three point play from Cade McKnight and a fast break layup from Dylan Peeters. A three pointer from McKnight put Truman up double digits at 39-29 with 3:20 to go in the half, but the Greyhounds battled back to make it a four point game at 39-35. But Truman closed on a 5-0 run with a three point play by Hazekamp and a layup from Mark Rogers to go up 44-35 at intermission.
Peeters opened the scoring in the second half to put the Bulldogs up 11, but the Greyhounds would answer. A 9-2 run brought them within four points at 48-44 with 15:40 to play. Later on with the margin still at four points, Truman went on an 11-2 run that looked like it could be where the Bulldogs pulled away. Scott hit a three, McKnight converted a three point play and Miller culminated the run with a three to put Truman up 64-51. But UIndy answered with a 10-0 run to close the game to 64-61. With 3:11 to go, Dee Montgomery pulled the Greyhounds even at 71. Scott quickly answered with a jumper, which Cory Miller answered for the Greyhounds. Jesse Bingham got the decisive basket with 34 seconds to go, but it would turn out to be a thrilling ending. With four seconds to go, Bingham turned the ball over to give Truman an out of bounds play. A three pointer from the corner would not go down and UIndy held on.
McKnight led with 21 points, while Miller scored 18 on six three pointers. Scott and Hazekamp each scored 12. Peeters led with 12 rebounds and Scott led with six assists.
The Bulldogs will wait to learn their fate in the NCAA Tournament, following the conference tournaments concluding this Sunday.
