Truman State University’s men’s basketball team took second place in the GLVC Championships this weekend, losing 75-61 to No. 1 Bellarmine University in the finals.
This was the first time in 19 years and the third time in school history the Bulldogs contended for the conference title.
The Bulldogs crushed No. 7 Lewis University 103-56 in the quarterfinal on Friday, with both junior guard Jake Velky and redshirt sophomore guard Brodric Thomas scoring 23 points. Redshirt senior forward Zach Fischer scored 13 points, and both redshirt freshman guard Turner Scott and redshirt junior guard Jacob Socha scored 10 points.
The semifinal game on Saturday against No. 3 Drury University was neck-and-neck, with Truman and Drury both scoring 36 points in the first half. Then, with two seconds left on the clock, Velky scored two free throws to put the Bulldogs up by one point, after which the Panthers turned over the ball and the ’Dogs won the game 68-67. Velky scored 19 total points for the game, and Fischer earned his 18th and final double-double of his career with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Truman then faced Bellarmine in the finals this afternoon, and the Knights had the lead for all but the first two-and-a-half minutes. Most of the last five minutes were spent with the Bulldogs attempting three-pointers with varying success, followed by the ’Dogs committing a foul and the Knights earning two free throws. Velky led Truman in points yet again with 17 for the game, followed closely by Thomas with 16. The finals match was Fischer’s first game of the season scoring fewer than 10 points.
The men’s basketball team will face Bellarmine again in a quarterfinal of the NCAA Midwest Regional at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Correction: This story originally said the men’s basketball season is over. The men’s basketball team will actually play in the NCAA Midwest Regional quarterfinals this weekend. For more information, pick up a copy of The Index on March 8.