KINGSPORT, Tenn. | The Truett McConnell men's basketball team clawed back from a 17-point deficit to get within one with 36 seconds left but could not pull ahead as Bryan knocked off the Bears, 72-67, Wednesday afternoon at the Appalachian Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament. With the win, Bryan advanced to take on Reinhardt in the quarterfinals while TMU's season is over.

The Bears had a three-point lead four different times in the first half with the final lead coming at 20-17 at the 9:29 mark in the first half after a Jacob Booke three-pointer. From that point on, Bryan pulled away to as many as 17 points.

TMU fought back late in the second half, going on an 18-4 run to cut the lead to three for the first time with 7:20 to play. Bryan was able to do just enough down the stretch to hold on and advance in the tournament.

Booke led the way with 20 points. David Campbell added 14, while Christian Davis contributed 11.