ST. CHARLES, Mo.—The Truman Men's Basketball team's bid for its third straight win fell short Saturday afternoon as the shooting went cold in a 78-68 loss to Lindenwood. Truman shot 42.6% from the floor and 29.2% from three point range. Hunter Strait and Cade McKnight tied for the team lead with 16 points while Strait and Dylan Peeters led with seven rebounds. Trey Shearer led the team with two steals and three assists while Strait and Josh Ollendieck each had a blocked shot.
Early on the two teams were incredibly close, a dunk from Eric Northweather made it 9-7, and then after a Lions bucket a three from Strait made it 11-10. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs would not be able to break through and tie the game/take the lead as the Lions eventually led by double digits. At the end of the half, a three pointer from Shearer made it a three point game at 39-36; but at the end of the half a three point play from Lindenwood and then foul shot from Shearer made it 42-37 going into intermission.
The Bulldogs hung around early in the second half, and with 11:59 left in the game Elijah Hazekamp hit a three pointer to tie it at 53. But Lindenwood got the next five points, then a layup from McKnight put Truman back within one possession. Masen Miller made a layup at the 6:12 mark to pull Truman back within two at 62-60, but unfortunately the Bulldogs would not get any closer the rest of the way as Lindenwood took the game on their home court.
Truman will be back at Pershing Arena next week for three games in five days as they welcome Southern Indiana on Thursday, then McKendree Saturday and then Lewis on Monday the 31st.
