Box Score LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Bellarmine University men's basketball team fell victim to a last second shot as the host Truman State Bulldogs pulled out a 92-90 victory in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game in Pershing Arena.

After Bellarmine's Jake Thelen knotted the score at 90 with a layup with 22 seconds remaining, the Bulldogs worked the clock down and Reed Mells fired a contested jumper from the top of the key that found its mark with the clock reading 0:00.7.  The clock was reset to a full one second, but a half-court shot by Bellarmine's George Suggs glanced off the rim as Truman State held on for the win.

Coming down the stretch, the Knights looked to be in control with an 88-82 lead and 3:35 remaining on the clock.  However, the visitors hit a rare cold stretch over the next three minutes, and Truman took advantage by going on an 8-0 run and seizing a 90-88 lead with 29 seconds left.

"This one is on me," said Bellarmine Coach Scott Davenport.  "You're asking young men to communicate defensively and that's where the breakdown occurred…and that's on coaching and preparation."

Davenport added, "We played our hearts out—22 assists and we shot 54.1 percent on the road.  Again, we make 14 of 21 free throws and they make 15 of 21."

Thelen led the Knights with 21 points and 10 rebounds to post his sixth double-double of the year.  Other solid performances were turned in by Keisten Jones with 19 points and a career high seven assists and Vance Hall tossed in 16 points and also dished out seven assists.

Truman (17-4, 10-3 GLVC) was led by Mells with 23 points while Mike Carlson added 20.  Andrew Vander Zwaag also played a big role in the Bulldogs' victory, coming off the bench to drain six of 12 3-pointers for 18 points.

The offenses dominated the game with both teams scorching the nets for over 50 percent shooting. The Knights hit on 33 of 61 attempts (54.1%) while Truman was true on 32 of 60 shots (53.3%).  The Bulldogs pulled out the margin of victory by outscoring Bellarmine by nine from the 3-point line, hitting 13 of 27 triples.  Bellarmine shot even better from outside but attempted 10 fewer, making 10 of 17 (58.8%).

The closing seconds of the first half also played a critical role in the outcome as Truman State scored five points in the final 10 seconds.  Ahead by just one, TSU worked the clock down and Cole Myers drained a triple. Then, Mells stole the inbounds pass and hit a jumper to give the Bulldogs a 51-45 halftime lead.

"Absolutely that's coaching," Davenport said of the late first half lapse. "I've never had a team do that in my life. That was about a seven point moment.  But it comes down to execution.  I take pride in the way they execute, and when they don't, that's my responsibility."

The Knights (16-5, 8-5 GLVC) return to action with their final home stand of the year on Thursday and Saturday.  The Tritons of Missouri-St. Louis will visit on Thursday for a game with an 8 p.m. tip, and Saturday's "Senior Day" opponent will be Maryville.  That game is scheduled for a 3:15 p.m. start.

BOX SCORE (HTM)