KIRKSVILLE, MO. - Playing their third game in five days, the Truman State Men's Basketball team edged out Lincoln (Mo.) 79-75 in overtime on Monday night. Five Bulldogs finished in double figures led by Xavier Hall with 18, the final two clinching the win with free throws in the final seconds.

There were 10 lead changes in the first half but the Bulldogs  (10-7/4-5 GLVC) established some separation and built a 14-point lead at 59-45 at the midway part of the second half. 

Lincoln (12-5/4-5 GLVC) began their comeback when they turned up their defensive pressure. The Blue Tigers went on a 14-0 run over the next four minutes to tie the game at 59 each. 

The teams went nearly three minutes without a bucket until Kobi Williams untied the game with a straight on three-pointer with under three minutes left. From there it was nip and tuck.

Mickey West knocked down a triple to jump Lincoln on top and Brennan Lovette answered at the other end to put Truman up.

West would score with seven seconds left to tie the game at 67. Truman raced down the court, but the ball was poked away before the end of regulation.

In their first overtime of the season, the Bulldogs went up by five points at 73-68 following free throws by Lovette. Lincoln scored the next five on a three-pointer and a basket off a steal by Max Ekono.

After Hall put Truman up with free throws, the Bulldogs dodged a bullet as Lincoln missed out on a pair of offensive rebounds before West came up short on a three-pointer with Landon Eiland securing the board with a minute left. 

Tyson Robinson made a pair of freebies to make it 76-75 Bulldogs with 26 seconds remaining. 

Trey Shearer made one of two from the line but Lincoln still had a chance. They moved the ball to the offensive end and called timeout but after talking it over, the inbounds pass sailed across the court leading the Blue Tigers' player out of bounds turning the ball back to Truman State.

Hall was fouled and calmed drained two free throws to seal the win.

Hall finished with 18, Shearer 16, Williams and Lovette each had 13 and Matt Haefner added 10. 

The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday at Quincy (Ill.) around 3 p.m.