LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The Truman State Bulldogs began play in the desert against Pittsburg State, where they fell 94-88.

Truman led 17-14 with 12:46 left in the first-half, but the Gorillas slowly took the lead and went into the break up 47-37. The three-point lead was the last time the Bulldogs would be up the rest of the game.

Pitt State was up by 14 with 9:52 left, and Truman slowly chipped away and cut the lead to two with 2:07 left.

The Gorillas hit two free throws at the 1:30 mark before CE Talton made two at the line to get it back to a two-point game. Pitt State made four more free throws in a row to take a 92-86 lead with 0:19 left. Talton made a layup with 0:12 remaining to cut the lead to two, but Pitt State responded with a dunk four seconds later to put the game away.

Brennan Lovette led Truman in scoring with 19 points on 8-11 shooting. He went 3-4 from three and had three rebounds along with a steal.

CE Talton was right behind him with 18 while going 7-12 from the field. He had a team-high seven boards with four assists and three steals.

Xavier Hall and Kobi Williams also had double-digit points, with Hall having 12 and Williams with 11. Hall led the team in assists with six and Williams had three rebounds, four assists, a block, and two steals.

The Bulldogs play their second and final game in Vegas tomorrow at 6 p.m. PST against Central Missouri.