Bulldog Men Cruise Past Saints to Improve to 19-5

FINAL: Truman 76, Maryville 51
Box Score || 2013-14 Schedule || 2013-14 Season Stats || Career Stats (Current Players)

KIRKSVILLE – Mike Carlson recorded his fifth double-double of the season, and three other Truman men's basketball players finished in double-figures, as the Bulldog basketball team earned a convincing 76-51 home win against Maryville (Mo.) on Thursday night in Pershing Arena.

Truman (19-5, 12-4 GLVC) trailed by four at 16-12 with 11:43 to play in the first half before Seth Jackson scored five straight points to put the Bulldogs on top, 17-16. From there, the Bulldog blitz continued, pushing the margin to nine at 30-21 with 7:24 to go in the half following a Cole Myers three-pointer.

The Bulldogs would reach a double-figure lead with 3:59 left in the opening half and fired a devastating blow to the Saints' (12-12, 6-10 GLVC) hopes in the closing seconds of the half when Andrew Vander Zwaag buried a last-scond triple for a 41-27 Bulldog advantage.

The lead never dipped below double-figures the rest of the way, with Truman pushing the margin to as many as 25 – including the final margin of 76-51.

Carlson's 24 points and 10 rebounds led all performers behind 9-of-13 shooting, while Vander Zwaag scored 16 points off the bend. Jackson added 15 points and three assists, while Myers finished his night with 10 points. Reed Mells handed out seven assists as part of Truman's 16 on the night.

For the game, Truman shot an even 60% from the floor, connecting on 27-of-45 total attempts, including an 11-for-24 mark (45.8%) from long-range. It was the second time this season that Truman hit the 60% mark overall and the ninth time in 16 GLVC games that the 'Dogs flew by the 50% mark.

Maryville, meanwhile, was limited to just a 34% line from the field (19-for-56) and connected on a mere 5-of-27 three-point tries. The Saints' leading scorers coming into the night – Asa Toney and Armon Provo – combined for just 12 points on 3-of-18 shooting (5-of-6 FT; 1-of-8 3FG) from the field.

The win kept the Bulldogs in a tie for fourth place in the GLVC overall standings with Lewis at 12-4. Southern Indiana and Bellarmine sit one game back at 11-5, with UW-Parkside holding off both the Bulldogs and Flyers by one game at 13-3. Truman will next be in action on Saturday (Feb. 22) evening, visiting Missouri-St. Louis (13-11, 7-9 GLVC) at 7:30 p.m. at UMSL's Mark Twain Center.

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