DAYTON, Tenn. (Jan. 7, 2021) – Although the Bears possessed a four-point lead at halftime, the Truett McConnell University men's basketball team fell (99-93) in an Appalachian Athletic Conference battle at Bryan College on Thursday evening. The loss put TMU at 4-8, 1-5 AAC on the season, while the Lions improved to 6-3, 3-2 AAC.
 
FIRST HALF WIN, SECOND HALF FALL
Marlon Allen put TMU up on the scoreboard in the first two minutes of the game, which sparked a strong 9-0 scoring run to open the game for the Bears. It only took seven minutes for TMU to get out front by as much as 13 (18-5). In fact, the Bears managed to still lead by double digits with four minutes to go before the half, but the Lions rallied to cut the deficit to four just before the buzzer (43-39).
 
TMU came back out to lead throughout the first four minutes of the second half but once Bryan tied it up off a turnover (51-51), the Lions took off to lead by as much as 14 throughout the final 16 minutes of regulation. Freshman Ty Briscoe's 3-pointer put TMU back within as little as four with 24 seconds remaining (93-97), but it proved not enough as Bryan responded going 2-for-2 from behind the free throw line.
 
LEADERS
Three Bears recorded double figures; Briscoe led the way with 22 points and four assists. Allen followed with 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Junior Enocka Franky tallied 17 points and six rebounds. Senior Xavier Latore and freshman Cory Seitz added eight points apiece. Latore and freshman EJ Smith also added three assists and two steals apiece.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears will have a quick turnaround as they will face the Bryan Lions once again inside the Benjamin F. Brady Arena on Saturday, Jan. 9, at 4:00 p.m.