LEBANON, Ill.—The Truman Men's Basketball team was back on the floor Saturday afternoon as they took on McKendree, their first game at their conference rival since 2020. Truman had taken all seven meetings between the two but McKendree got their first win as they downed Truman 74-73.

Masen Miller led Truman with 15 points, while four other Bulldogs scored in double figures with Dylan Peeters getting 13, Keaton Mitchell 12 and Elijah Hazekamp and Trey Shearer 11 each. Peeters led with 11 rebounds while Hazekamp and Hunter Strait tied for the team lead with four assists.

McKendree had the hot hand early as they led 11-4, but Truman fought back with a 7-2 run to pull within one basket following a three point play from Mitchell. But the Bearcats pushed back and led the rest of the half. However, Truman ended the half on an 11-0 run to pull within three points at 40-37 at the break.

The second half began with Truman getting within one following a layup from Peeters to make it 42-41, but the Bulldogs could not pull ahead. Later in the half, with McKendree up 52-45, Truman began their run and scored nine of the next ten; with a three point play from Hazekamp giving Truman their first lead of the game at 54-53 with 12:41 to go.

Miller hit two threes back to back to extend the Bulldogs lead to four points at 61-57 with 10:38 remaining, the largest Bulldog lead of the game. Two quick threes from McKendree put them back ahead by two, and a layup from Peeters tied the game at 63 but from there the Bearcats would lead the rest of the way. Shearer hit the final field goal of the game with 2:45 left to make it a 74-71 game, but both defenses stiffened up and only allowed points on two free throws from Hazekamp the rest of the way.

Truman will be back on the floor this coming Thursday as they take on Missouri S&T in Rolla, then travel to St. Louis for a rematch with Maryville; looking to get the season sweep of the Saints this year.