QUINCY, ILL. – Senior Neil Branham drained the game-winner with seven seconds to play to give the University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team a 71-70 win over Ferris State to finish the Microtel GLVC\GLIAC Challenge, hosted by Quincy, with a 2-0 record.
 
Branham's heroics came after Ferris State (0-2) hit one of two free throws with 23 seconds remaining to take a 70-69 lead in a game that featured 19 lead changes and 19 ties. The largest lead of the game was only four points and belonged to the Bulldogs, which owned a 35-34 halftime lead.
 
Branham finished with eight points, connecting on 4-of-5 field goals, and also added three assists and two steals, while senior Aareon Smith was the game's leading scorer with 19 points. Smith was 9-of-11 at the free throw line and also pulled down a team-best six rebounds.
 
Junior Kevin Swanson followed with 12 points, all coming in the second half, and added a pair of blocked shots, while junior Derek Williams added 11 points and three steals.
 
UMSL shot 47.5 percent from the field, including 55.2 percent in the second half, while Ferris State shot 45.9 percent and owned a 37-33 rebounding advantage.
 
UMSL will play its next four games at home, beginning Saturday with Robert Morris of Springfield at 5:30 p.m.