Carlson's 20 Can't Get Bulldogs Past Blue Tigers

Box Score | Season Stats
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - - Redshirt freshman Mike Carlson led all Truman men's basketball players with 20 points – including 13 straight during one second-half stretch – but the Bulldogs couldn't complete a furious late rally and fell 68-64 on Saturday afternoon at Lincoln University.

The Bulldogs (5-11, 3-6 MIAA) spent 38 minutes trying to catch the Blue Tigers (3-11, 3-6 MIAA) after the host squad opened up a 21-7 lead in the first ten minutes and expanded the margin to 18 early in the second half.

However, Truman began to work its offense – centered around Carlson, freshman Seth Jackson (11 points) and sophomore Isaac Gardner (11 points) – and crept to within three at 60-57 with 2:37 to play. The 'Dogs turned it over on their next possession but, after Cedric Ridle Jr. missed a dunk on a fastbreak, Gardner found junior Tom Norton for a wide-open triple to tie it just seconds later.

Lincoln, though, responded immediately, getting a three-pointer of its own by Clifton Fleming that proved to be the go-ahead basket, as Truman would never draw even the rest of the way.

Carlson's 20 points came on 8-of-14 shooting with three triples and was paired with a team-high seven rebounds. Jackson, Norton and junior EJ Hicks added five assists apiece for a Truman offense that shot 45% from the field and 39% from three-point range.

Lincoln shot 47% from the field and out-rebounded the Bulldogs 35-28. Ridle (21) and Jimmy Payton (20) led the Blue Tiger offense.

Truman returns to action on Wednesday (Jan. 18) night with a 7:30 pm tipoff in Pershing Arena against Central Missouri. The Bulldogs closed a three-game road trip with Saturday's game in Jefferson City.

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