Mike Carlson scored 27 points and EJ Hicks added 13, but the Truman men’s basketball team fell 83-78 in its 2012-13 season-opener to William Penn (Iowa).
The Statesmen are ranked No. 19 in the NAIA top-25.
A tight game throughout, Truman (0-1) and the Statesmen (5-0) saw seven ties and 14 lead changes on the night.
Truman dominated in the paint, out-scoring WPU 42-22, but the Statesmen connected on 10 triples and went 21-for-30 from the charity stripe with Truman countering at only a 62% clip from the free throw line.
Truman carried a 43-41 lead into the intermission, fueled by a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Hicks as Carlson scored 15 first-half points on 6-of-9 shooting.
After allowing WPU to hit seven threes in the first 20 minutes,
Truman ratcheted up the defense in the final half, limiting the visitors to just 3-of-13 from beyond the arc.
However, an 8-for-14 free throw team effort by the Bulldogs in the second half negated chances to cut into the Statesmen lead, as WPU iced the game at the line for the five-point road win.
Carlson’s 27 led all players, coming on 11-of-23 (3-of-5 3FG; 2-2 FT) shooting, with Hicks (13) and Cory Myers (10 points, five assists) also reaching double-figures.
Playing just 10 minutes due to foul trouble, Seth Jackson scored nine points, followed by seven from Isaac Gardner Marek Bush led all Bulldogs with 10 rebounds, as Truman was limited to just seven offensive rebounds in the contest.
The ’Dogs shot 44.4% (28-for-63) overall, including a 6-for-18 (33.3%) mark from long range.
WPU put five players in double-figures, led by Taylor Stoutner’s 17 off the bench.
The Bulldogs return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 7:00 pm when they host Upper Iowa in Pershing Arena.
Courtesy Truman State University
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