KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - - Junior Mike Carlson led all Bulldogs with 18 points, and senior Tom Norton added five three-pointers, but the Truman men’s basketball team finished on the short end of a 74-68 decision against Fort Hays (Kan.) State on Saturday afternoon in Pershing Arena.
The Bulldogs never led in the game and were last tied with the Tigers at 16-all with 11:10 to go in the first half. From there, Truman (7-11, 4-6 MIAA) went nearly six minutes without a basket, allowing Fort Hays (11-6, 5-4 MIAA) to build a nine-point cushion at 25-16. The ’Dogs would get it to within five, 30-25, at the break, but the Tigers pushed the lead to double-figures at the 11:43 mark of the second half. The squads would play between a seven and 12 point lead for Hays before freshman Cory Myers cut the gap to five, 67-62, with 55 seconds on the clock.
However, despite two long-range bombs by Norton in the final seconds, the Tigers iced the game at the charity stripe, hitting seven of eight in the final 45 seconds to leave Kirksville with the six-point win.
Carlson led the ’Dogs in points (18) and tied teammate Marek Bush for the game-high with seven rebounds, despite battling foul trouble throughout the afternoon. Norton’s 15 points and a 10 point outing by sophomore Seth Jackson matched Carlson’s double-figure output, as Truman shot 24-of-58 (41%) for the game, including an 8-of-19 (42%) mark from three-point range. Myers finished with seven assists and a team-best two steals.
The Bulldogs out-rebounded FHSU 33-31, including an 11-5 edge on the offensive glass. Fort Hays shot 52% (27-of-52) for the game, including a 53% mark (9-of-17) from distance, and were led by Craig Nicholson’s 18 points and nine assists.
Truman takes its first off-night of the MIAA schedule midweek before returning to action next Saturday (Feb. 2) afternoon in Bolivar, Mo., against Southwest Baptist.
Courtesy: Truman State University
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