The William Jewell men's basketball team dropped a tough 81-80 decision to Truman State on Thursday evening in the Mabee Center, in a battle of two of the top scoring teams in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The loss drops Jewell to 17-6 overall 7-6 in GLVC play. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• 1H: Truman opened the game on fire from nearly everywhere on the floor, shooting 70 percent over the first ten minutes of play, leading by as many as 10. The Cardinals, who shot 56 percent from the floor themselves, kept things close thanks to five points from Keith Hayes and a four point play from Nick Bradley. Two free throws by Pharroh Gordon with two seconds remaining pulled Jewell within 48-40 at the break.  
• 2H: The Bulldogs pushed their lead back to double-digits after a three point play from Broderic Thomas with 12:03 to play. A layup from Bradley brought Jewell within 72-74 before a three from Patrick Whelan with just over five minutes remaining gave the Cards their first lead since the 19:25 mark of the first half. Truman took a 81-77 lead before Hayes' three point play made it 81-80 with 2:46 on the clock. Neither team could muster any offense the rest of the way as each suffered through two turnovers and multiple missed shots to end the game 81-80. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Although the Cardinals only committed 10 turnovers on the night, the Bulldogs scored nine points off those turnovers compared to just two by Jewell. 
• Truman won the battle in the paint 48-32. 
• The Cardinals outscored Truman 40-33 in the second half and held the Bulldogs to 22 percent shooting from the three point line. 

LEADERS OF THE FLIGHT

• Hayes led all scorers with 23 points while Patrick Whelan added 15 and Byron Harp 13. 
• Bradley filled in nicely for teammates in foul trouble, playing in a career best 28 minutes and scoring a career high 13 points, to go along with two steals. 
• Gordon was a monster on the boards, pulling down 20 of Jewell's 35 rebounds, all on the defensive end. The junior also added five points, three assists, one steal, and one block. 

YOU SHOULD NOTE

• Gordon's 20 rebound game is the first since Nick Larson pulled down 22 against Central Methodist on November 12, 2011 and was just four shy of Bob Carson's record 24, set back in February 1956. 

UP NEXT 
The Cardinals continue GLVC action on Saturday with a trip to Illinois Springfield for a 5:00 p.m. tip off.