Freshman Seth Jackson scored a game-high 22 points in 32 minutes, and junior EJ Hicks added 15 points and a steal, but the Truman men’s basketball team dropped a 78-73 decision to Central Missouri on Wednesday night.
The Bulldogs (5-12, 3-7 MIAA) suffered their fourth MIAA loss by five points or less, as the purple and white clawed back from a 16-point deficit with 7:41 to play to pull within four twice in the final 30 seconds.
However, despite the two teams combining to shoot just 64% from the charity stripe, UCM (11-4, 7-3 MIAA) made theirs when it counted – hitting the final seven in the last 53 seconds to keep the Bulldogs at bay.
Truman got out to a quick start, picking up a 12-6 lead just six and a half minutes into the ball game.
The teams then played within a single possession on the scoreboard for most of the first half, with a Jackson layup sending the teams to the break with a 31-29 UCM edge.
However, the Mules opened the second half on a 15-4 run to open up a 13-point lead less than four minutes in.
After pushing the lead to 61-45, the Bulldogs began their comeback with a Marek Bush jumper and an Andrew Vander Zwaag triple to quickly make it an 11-point game.
The Mules maintained nearly a 10-point lead until the two-minute mark before a Tom Norton basket and two free throws by Jackson drew the ’Dogs to within five with 55 seconds to play.
The squads traded points on their next two possessions with Truman getting to within four at 72-68, but UCM’s Boo Hunter converted at the line and Truman couldn’t come closer en route to the 78-73 final.
The 22 points marked Jackson’s third 20-point outing of the season, with his nine field goals marking a single-season best for any Bulldog
.He added five rebounds and two assists, while Hicks’ 15 points came paired with five rebounds of his own. Mike Carlson took home top rebounding honors with seven to go with nine points, while Tyler Anderson scored six and grabbed six off the bench.
Truman out-rebounded UCM by one and shot 42% for the game but struggled from three-point range (4-for-18) and the free throw line (13-for-23). The Bulldogs turned it over just eight times – the lowest amount by the squad this year.
Five players finished in double-figures for the Mules, led by Lance Beckwith’s career-high 20 on 8-of-11 shooting.
The Bulldogs will kick off the second half of conference play by hosting nationally-ranked Missouri Southern at 3:00 pm on Saturday in Pershing Arena.
Courtesy Truman State University
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