Bulldogs Downed by Buzzer-Beater at Emporia

Box Score (XML) | Box Score (HTML) | Season Stats
EMPORIA, Kan. - - A lay-up as time expired by Emporia State University's Chris Simmons proved to be the difference-maker, as the host Hornets handed the Truman men's basketball team a 60-59 setback on Saturday afternoon in White Auditorium.

The Bulldogs (4-8, 2-3 MIAA) carried a 24-19 lead into the halftime break behind a stout defensive effort, limiting ESU (7-3, 3-1 MIAA) to just 24% shooting in the opening 20 minutes while countering with a 42% mark of its own.

However, after ESU rattled off 12 straight points early in the second half to take a 34-30 lead, the two teams found themselves in a battle the rest of the way, with Truman taking a 51-50 lead on a Vesko Filchev (Plovdiv, Bulgaria, GPCHE) lay-up at the 3:25 mark.

Truman held the lead, completing an 11-0 run on a Mike Carlson (Superior, Wisc., Marshall HS) triple to build a 55-50 lead with 1:03 to play, before ESU cut the margin to 59-58 with seven seconds on the clock. Tyler Anderson (West Des Moines, Iowa, Valley HS) then stepped on the end line trying to inbound the basketball, giving the Hornets the ball back under the Truman basket. Following a timeout, ESU's Simmons took a pass and laid it in as the horn sounded to stun the Bulldogs and complete the comeback.

EJ Hicks (Davenport, Iowa, Davenport Central) led the 'Dogs with 15 points and six assists, while Isaac Gardner (Washington, Iowa, Washington) added 14 points off the bench. Seth Jackson (St. Louis, Mo., CBC) tacked on nine points and three assists, with Filchev scoring seven and grabbing a team-high eight rebounds in 16 minutes.

Truman shot 42% for the game compared to 34% for the Hornets, but ESU took 61 total attempts to just 45 for the Bulldogs. The 'Dogs held ESU's high-powered three-point offense to just four long-range makes on the day on 20 total attempts while also out-rebounding the Hornets 38-33.

The Bulldogs return to the court next on Monday, Jan. 2, at 3:00 pm in Kirksville against Fort Hays (Kan.) State University.

Print Friendly Version