JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Truman State men's basketball team held off a determined Lincoln squad 59-57 Thursday evening at Jason Gym. The Bulldogs improve to 5-7 overall and 2-2 in GLVC play, while the Blue Tigers fall to 7-6 (1-4 GLVC).
Truman State struggled early as Lincoln jumped out to a 25-15 lead midway through the first half. Malcolm Davis paced the Blue Tigers with 15 first-half points, connecting on three three-pointers as Lincoln shot 43.5% from the field. The Bulldogs battled back behind the play of Emmanuel Byrd and Jahki Parrinello, cutting the deficit to 38-34 at halftime. Julian Brown drained a three-pointer at the buzzer to give Truman momentum heading into the locker room.
The second half became a defensive slugfest as both teams struggled to find offensive rhythm. Lincoln extended its lead to 50-40 with 11:17 remaining behind a Max Ekono turnaround jumper. The Blue Tigers appeared in control, but Truman State refused to fold.
Parrinello ignited the comeback with an aggressive attack on the basket. The senior guard went to the free-throw line repeatedly, converting critical free throws to keep the Bulldogs in striking distance. His driving layup with 5:43 remaining, followed by a converted free throw, cut the deficit to 52-47 and energized the Truman bench.
The Bulldogs' relentless pressure defensively began to frustrate Lincoln. Parrinello continued his assault on the rim, scoring on consecutive driving layups to trim the lead to 52-49 with 5:06 left. After a Lincoln turnover, Parrinello drew another foul and hit both free throws to pull Truman within 52-51 with 4:18 remaining.
Brown provided a critical shot with a second-chance layup that gave Truman its first lead of the second half at 53-52 with 3:27 to play. After Davis answered with a floating jumper to put Lincoln back ahead 54-53, Parrinello converted a free throw to give the Bulldogs a 54-54 tie with 2:36 remaining.
The final minutes were tense as both teams traded possessions. Parrinello's driving layup with 1:58 left gave Truman a 56-55 lead. D'Necco Rucker responded with a driving layup to put Lincoln ahead 57-56 with 1:33 remaining, setting up a dramatic finish.
With under 10 seconds remaining and Truman trailing 57-56, Brown drove the lane and converted a critical layup to give the Bulldogs a 58-57 lead with eight seconds left. After Rucker turned the ball over on Lincoln's ensuing possession, Drew Kingery was fouled and made one of two free throws to extend the lead to 59-57 with five seconds remaining. Lincoln's final shot attempt fell short as time expired, securing the thrilling victory for Truman State.
Team Statistics Comparison
| Category |
Truman State |
Lincoln |
| Field Goals |
22-63 (34.9%) |
17-50 (34.0%) |
| 3-Point FG |
3-18 (16.7%) |
5-14 (35.7%) |
| Free Throws |
12-19 (63.2%) |
18-23 (78.3%) |
| Rebounds |
34 |
46 |
| Assists |
4 |
7 |
| Turnovers |
6 |
19 |
| Steals |
8 |
3 |
| Blocks |
4 |
10 |
| Points in Paint |
30 |
20 |
| Fast Break Points |
10 |
7 |
| Bench Points |
17 |
11 |
| Points Off Turnovers |
22 |
8 |
Truman State Statistical Leaders
Scoring:
Rebounds:
Assists:
Steals:
Blocks:
The comeback victory showcased Truman State's resilience and defensive intensity. The Bulldogs forced 19 Lincoln turnovers, converting them into 22 points. Parrinello's clutch performance, particularly his ability to get to the free-throw line and score in the paint during crunch time, proved to be the difference. The win keeps momentum positive and keeps the Bulldogs competitive in GLVC play.
Up Next:
The Bulldogs will look to take down the Missouri S&T Miners in the Rolla on Sunday at 3:00 PM.
#BulldogNation
