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Sophomore Seth Jackson shared the game-high with 20 points, pacing four Truman men’s basketball players in double-figures, but the Bulldogs couldn’t overcome a 10-2 Pittsburg State second half run in a 79-75 road loss on Thursday night.

The Bulldogs (7-13, 4-8 MIAA) held a 58-57 lead off a Jackson jumper with 6:36 to go in the second half, but the Gorillas (14-6, 7-5 MIAA) got eight points from the foul line and a lay-up in the next 2:21 to take a 67-60 lead with 4:15 to play.

Truman closed to within five on multiple occasions down the stretch, but each time, the Gorillas had an answer and never allowed the ’Dogs to get within three before the final minute.

After Pitt led 77-73 following a free throw, Cole Myers put in a runner with six seconds to go, cutting the Gorilla advantage to 77-75.

But, after a Truman foul, PSU iced the game with two more free throws en route to the 79-75 final decision.

Truman shot 40% from the floor for the game, with Jackson’s 20 coming on 6-of-10 shooting and an 8-of-9 night from the foul line. Mike Carlson added 13 points and seven rebounds, while Tom Norton chipped in 11 points. Marek Bush came up just shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

For the second straight contest, the game was played heavily at the foul line, with a combined 50 whistles on the two teams resulting in 73 total free throw attempts.

 The Bulldogs made the most of their trips to the line, hitting 31-of-37 overall, including 23-of-26 (88.5%) in the second half.

The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday afternoon, visiting Northeastern (Okla.) State at 3:30 pm in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Courtesy Truman State University