ST. LOUIS, MO. – Junior Kevin Swanson and senior Aareon Smith combined for 41 points to help the University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team to a 73-60 victory in its home opener on Saturday.
 
Swanson recorded 22 points, while Smith followed with 19 as the Tritons improve to 3-0. Junior Tre Ogles also reached double figures with 15 points.
 
UMSL used a late 10-0 run to pull away from the Eagles, turning a 55-52 lead into a 65-52 advantage with 4:21 to play.
 
UMSL, which owned a 37-25 halftime lead, saw the Eagles open the second half with an 11-3 run and pull within 40-36 before later cutting the deficit to 46-45 with 11:48 on the clock. The Tritons followed with seven unanswered but Robert Morris-Springfield made it a three-point game two and a half minutes later at 55-52.
 
UMSL shot 44.4 percent, while Robert Morris-Springfield shot 41.2 percent. The Eagles won the battle on the boards, 34-31. Ogles pulled down a team0-best seven rebounds.
 
The Tritons forced 19 turnovers, outscoring Robert Morris-Springfield, 17-11, in points off turnovers, and received 27 points from the bench.
 
UMSL continues its current four-game homestand on Tuesday, hosting Benedictine (Ill.) at 7 p.m.