ROMEOVILLE, Ill.—The Truman Men's Basketball team avenged Monday's loss to the Lewis Flyers in their best shooting display of the season. The Bulldogs shot over 70% from the floor and over 55% from three point range in their 89-76 victory Thursday night. Cade McKnight scored 26 to lead the Bulldogs while Elijah Hazekamp added 21. Both grabbed seven rebounds to tie for the team lead while Hunter Strait led with eight assists.
The Bulldogs started slowly as Lewis held a 17-8 lead with 11:51 left to play in the first half. From there McKnight made a three pointer and then converted on a three point play to make it a three point game. Keaton Mitchell got a layup to bring Truman within one point. Lewis held onto the lead for a few minutes, but McKnight tied the game up at 5:22 and then a fast break three off a steal by Sam Nissen gave the Bulldogs a 31-28 lead with 4:45 left in the half. The rest of the half was tightly contested, tied at 40 with 53 seconds remaining. McKnight put Truman up late but a three gave Lewis back the lead. Despite shooting just under 70% from the floor during the first half, the Bulldogs trailed at halftime 43-42.
Truman came out hot to begin the second half, with Masen Miller making a layup to open the frame and then Hazekamp followed with a three and then two baskets by Eric Northweather pushed the lead to six and then Hazekamp drilled another three and in just over two and half minutes the Bulldogs were up nine. Truman continued to push the pace and with 13:49 left Hazekamp got a fast break dunk that put the Bulldogs up double digits for the first time at 58-47. But Lewis would not go down easy on their home court, and with 7:33 left pulled to within six of the Bulldogs. Dylan Peeters answered with a jumper in the paint and then Strait drilled a three to restore the double digit lead at 77-66. With 2:21 to go, it was 82-73 Bulldogs, but from there McKnight scored five straight and then Peeters completed a 7-0 run to push the lead to 16, the largest of the game for Truman. Lewis made a three in the final 30 seconds but the game was well in hand for the Bulldogs.
Five Bulldogs scored in double figures as McKnight scored 26, Hazekamp 21, Peeters with 13 and Miller/Northweather with ten each. Miller also tied a career high with three steals.
On Saturday the Bulldogs will take on UIndy, who will be playing the second game of a back to back. The Greyhounds are hosting William Jewell on Friday before hosting the Bulldogs. With this win, Truman is now in sole possession of fourth place in the GLVC, breaking a tie with Missouri-St. Louis.
