KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – In the first of many conference battles this season, the Rockhurst Hawks closed strong and downed the Truman State Bulldogs 90-77 on Tuesday night. Matt Haefner led three Bulldogs in double-digits with 19 points.
 
It was a back-and-forth slugfest to start the night and was tied at 38 all at halftime. The last of the 12 ties during the game came at 3:50 left to play at 72 each.  The Bulldog defense unraveled and the Hawks closed the game on an 18-5 run to claim the victory.
 
Jesse White led all scorers with 27 points on five triples and Brian Hawthorne added 20. Rockhurst shot 53% for the game, outscored Truman 52-22 in the paint and had 14 second-chance points.
 
The Bulldogs did get to the foul line and converted 29-of-31 times but were a tough 38% shooting from the field, including 8-of-21 from outside.  Xavier Hall scored 16 points and Landon Eiland finished with 14.
 
Truman State will head to Sioux Falls, S.D., to face Augustana on Friday at 2 p.m. and the defending Division II national champions Minnesota State Mankato on Saturday at 11 a.m.