SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Truman State took advantage of host Augustana's cold shooting behind the arc to open Bill Gross Classic with a 74-65 win Friday.
 
The Bulldogs got 16 each from sophomore guard Kobi Williams and junior guard Isaiah Reams in his first start for the Purple and White. Williams had a game-high eight boards while Reams notched six, and both were perfect from the charity stripe with four by Williams and five from Reams. 
 
Junior guard Xavier Hall tossed in 14 points to go with five assists and four steals. The Bulldogs once again had an advantage in bench points, 23-13, with redshirt sophomore guard Casen Lawrence and his 15 points on 5-8 in three-point shooting leading the way.
 
Augustana finished 19.2 in three-point percentage and were able to connect on just five of 26 attempts. Viking Akoi Akoi led all scorers with 20 points. 
 
Truman State grabbed a 21-14 lead with 11:36 left in the first half on a Lawrence three off an assist by Hall. The next two minutes saw a 9-2 Viking run, 4-4 in field goals with a three, to knot the score at 23. Augustana held the lead but could never get more than four points ahead to take a 39-37 lead into half. 
 
Working off a missed Akoi three-point attempt, Williams grabbed his fourth board and Hall scored his seventh point to tie the things at 48 with 12:10 to play. The Bulldogs built a nine-point lead over the next four minutes, 66-57, when Reams hit a three pointer off a Hall assist. The closest the Vikings could get came with 1:10 to play, but Williams, Hall, and Reams all went 2-2 from the free-throw line down the stretch to secure the win.
 
Truman State climbs to 4-2 overall with a mark of 0-1 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play while Augustana falls to 3-3 overall, 0-1 in the Northern Sun Intercollege Conference. The Bulldogs wrap things at the Bill Gross Classic in Sioux Falls at 11 a.m. Saturday against defending Division II champion Minnesota State.