KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — Upper Iowa hung on for a 73-70 victory over the Truman State Men's Basketball team on Thursday night. The Bulldogs whittled a 13-point deficit away and had opportunities at the end to tie or take the lead.
 
The Bulldogs (8-7 overall; 2-5 GLVC) raced out to a 10-2 start but Upper Iowa used their rebounding advantage and Truman State's icy shooting from distance to lead 35-32 at the break. The Bulldogs were 2-of-13 from beyond the arc in the first half and missed their next six in the second half before getting some clutch distance shots to fall late during the comeback.
 
Upper Iowa (11-5 overall; 5-3 GLVC) led 63-50 with seven minutes left but Xavier Hall and Isaiah Reams buried some triples down the stretch to mount the charge. Reams' triple with 1:47 left got the Bulldogs to within five with 1:47 to play.
 
Kobi Williams knocked down some free throws with 25 seconds left to make it 70-67 but the league's leading scorer Nick Reid was sent to the line and converted a one and one to push it back to five.
 
Matt Haefner kept Truman alive with a triple with 14.7 showing. Caleb Delzell missed the front end of the one and one and Truman had an opportunity. Brennan Lovette was fouled but missed the front end of the one and one with 4.2 left.
 
Reid had a double bonus chance out of a timeout and missed one of two. Without a timeout, Truman rushed down the floor and Reams' rushed three-pointer fell off just short.
 
Reid finished with 33 points with five threes and 10 made free throws. The Peacocks controlled the glass with a 43-31 margin and had a 15-4 advantage in second chance points.
 
Hall led the Truman scorers with 19 points and Lovette followed with 13. Reams scored all 11 of his points in the second half and Williams closed with 10. The Bulldogs finished 5-of-23 from outside and 15-of-21 from the charity stripe.
 
Truman State will host Lewis (Ill.) in the second half of a doubleheader in Pershing Arena on Saturday afternoon. Tip time scheduled for approximately 3:15 p.m.