ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Truman State Men's Basketball team outscored Missouri Western by 13 points in the second half and pulled out a 53-43 road victory to head into the holiday break on Saturday.

Neither team torched the nets shooting with the Bulldogs hitting 36% for the game and made five three-pointers and the Griffons struggling to a 29% shooting percentage with one made three-pointer on the afternoon. Missouri Western missed their last 11 long range shots and were 1-of-15 from distance. 

The Griffons led 25-22 at the break. Xavier Hall made the first of three straight Truman triples for the break the scoring drought in the second half at the 16 minute mark. Kobi Williams followed and Hall hit the third to push the Bulldogs in front 31-29.

Landon Eiland sparked an 11-0 Bulldog run midway through the second half as Truman opened up a 41-31 lead with eight minutes showing. 

Western got as close as six with under a minute to play at 49-43 but Trey Shearer and Williams converted at the line.

Hall was the only Bulldog in double-figures with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Brennan Lovette added nine and eight each from Williams, Shearer and Eiland.

Truman will return to action on January 3rd against one of the hottest teams in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, Missouri S&T. The Miners are 8-1 and upset #3 West Liberty in Las Vegas earlier in the weekend. Game time in Pershing Arena is 3 p.m.