KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Xavier Hall's free throws with 2.1 seconds left sent the Lewis Flyers packing as the Truman State Bulldogs picked up a signature win 74-72 on Saturday afternoon in Pershing Arena.
 
It was a game of momentum swings with Lewis leading 27-19 with four minutes left in the first half but the Bulldogs closed on a 14-4 run and led 34-31 at the break.
 
Truman State (9-7; 3-5 GLVC) rolled to a 10-point lead at 52-42 midway through the second but the Flyers used a 14-0 run to go back on top 56-52. Kobi Williams stemmed the tide with a three-pointer to push his game total to 20 points and after Lewis answered with their own trey, Landon Eiland dialed from distance followed by a bucket from Matt Haefner to put Truman back up 60-59.
 
An Eiland dunk followed by two deep threes from Casen Lawrence gave Truman a 68-62 lead but Lewis responded right back with seven straight to take the lead right back.
 
Haefner came up big again with a basket to leapfrog the Bulldogs back in front with 52 seconds left only to watch Rob Stroud respond with a hoop at the 34 second mark to put Lewis up.
 
With a four second difference between shot and game clocks, Truman State took the first shot chance and Hall knocked down a 15-footer from the right side of the lane to make it 72-71 Bulldogs with 18.8 left.
 
Lewis (11-4; 6-2 GLVC) attacked and drew a foul with Anthony Saylers earning free throws. He made the first but missed the second with no Flyers' on the lane for a rebound leaving the game tied and Truman in possession.  Lewis had 22 offensive rebounds already in the game.
 
Hall drove down the right side of the paint and drew a shooting foul with 2.1 left as the Flyers were below the bonus limit. Hall calmly knocked down the first, tried but made the second and Lewis' three-quarter heave at the buzzer sailed wide.
 
The Bulldogs overcame a huge difference in rebounding as Lewis 46-25 and used that margin for a 25-3 difference in second-chance points.
 
Despite those totals, the Bulldogs shot 52% for the game and 39% from beyond the arce with 18 assists to only eight turnovers. Williams led with 20 points followed by 12 each from Haefner and Lawrence.
 
Truman State will host Lincoln University on Monday evening around 7 p.m.