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Truman State University Athletics

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Photo Submitted
70
Winner Truman TSU 3-2
65
Kentucky Wesleyan KWC 4-3
Winner
Truman TSU
3-2
70
Final
65
Kentucky Wesleyan KWC
4-3
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Truman TSU 39 31 70
Kentucky Wesleyan KWC 30 35 65

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Tyler Madsen, Athletics Communications

Men's Basketball Recap: Truman 70, Kentucky Wesleyan 65

Box Score (PDF) || Season Stats
 
OWENSBORO, Ky. - - The Truman men's basketball team captured the 2014 Kentucky Wesleyan Holiday Classic tournament title on Saturday afternoon, as the Bulldogs withstood a second half rally by the host Panthers en route to a 70-65 victory at the KWC SportsCenter. Senior guard Seth Jackson was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after tying his career-high with 29 points against KWC.
 
The Bulldogs (3-2) earned the tournament title after back-to-back victories against North Alabama and Kentucky Wesleyan this weekend at the home of a former GLVC and eight-time national champion program. In addition to Jackson's MOP accolades, senior guard Reed Mells and sophomore guard Kyle Kanaskie were each named to the all-tournament team.
 
Truman led for nearly 36 minutes of game time in the contest against KWC (4-3), as the Bulldogs built up a 39-30 halftime lead behind 60% shooting overall, including a 5-for-10 mark from three-point range and a 10-for-12 effort from the foul line. After the game was tied at 18-all with 9:04 left in the opening half, the Bulldogs scored 14 of the next 17 points to take a 32-21 lead – capped by an Andrew Vander Zwaag three-pointer.
 
The nine point halftime lead quickly dwindled, as the Panthers exploded out of the locker room to take a 46-45 lead with 14:28 left on the clock. However, after KWC took a 58-55 lead on a three-pointer by Ken-Jah Bosley with 8:09 to play, a 7-0 burst behind a pair of Jackson free throws, a Kanaskie triple, and a Mells lay-up gave Truman 62-58 lead.
 
Truman's defense keyed the team to its victory, as the Bosley triple started a nearly seven-minute field goal drought for the Panthers, permitting Truman to lead by three with just more than a minute to play. The teams traded misses on their next possession, and, after KWC got a lay-up with 13 seconds left, Kanaskie iced it with four free throws and a steal in the final seconds for the 70-65 win.
 
Jackson finished with 29 points on just seven field goal attempts – going 6-of-7 from the floor (1-1 3FG) and 16-of-19 from the charity stripe. Mells finished with 11 points, four assists, and three steals, while Kanaskie added 11 points and a pair of steals as well. Truman shot 53% overall, 35% from three-point range, and 75% from the free throw line. KWC did out-rebound the 'Dogs 30-18, but Truman used a 15-point advantage from the foul line to make up any glass difference.
 
The Bulldogs complete their nearly-3,000 mile road trip through November with a 3-2 overall record, having lost by one possession in each of its two setbacks. Truman opens a stretch of eight straight regular season games in Pershing Arena this Thursday (Dec. 4) night at 7 p.m. against Lincoln Christian (Ill.) College.
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