Box Score

ST. LOUIS, MO. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team won its second straight contest on Saturday afternoon with a 78-54 victory over new Great Lakes Valley Conference member McKendree.
 
The Tritons held the Bearcats to just six points during a 14 minute 20 second stretch that spanned from the middle of the first half through the start of the second half. The 54 points scored by McKendree tied the fewest allowed by an UMSL opponent this season.
 
The Tritons improve to 9-4 overall with the win, including 2-3 in the GLVC, while McKendree falls to 7-7 and 1-3 in the league.  
 
Junior Darian Cartharn scored 18 points to pace the offense on 7-of-10 shooting, while adding four assists and three steals. Senior Joshua McCoy followed with 12 points and seven rebounds, while senior Isiah Nunn added 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. Senior Justin Jones chipped in 10 points.
 
UMSL shot 46.2 percent from the field, including 52.8 percent in the second half and owned a 46-34 rebounding advantage. Sophomore Aareon Smith pulled down a team-best 11 boards.
 
UMSL used a 15-3 run in the final 7:57 of the first half to take a 29-27 lead into halftime. After Clinton Happe gave McKendree a 24-14 lead with 8:30 to play, the Bearcats finished the half shooting 1-of-12 from the field.
 
The Bearcats jumped out to a quick 20-9 lead in the opening eight minutes 32 seconds, knocking down 4-of-5 three-pointers.
 
The Tritons then used an 18-3 run to begin the second half.
 
McKendree was held to 32.2 percent shooting and was led by Clinton Happe's 17 points.
 
UMSL is back in action on Thursday when it travels to Rockhurst for a 7:30 p.m. GLVC contest.
 
TRITON TIDBITS: UMSL improved to 12-5 all-time against McKendree… the Tritons scored 18 points on fastbreaks… McKendree committed 14 turnovers, resulting in 24 points on the other end for UMSL… the Tritons shot a season-low 12 free throws after entering the game averaging 26.9 trips to the line per game.