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SETTING THE SCENE
UMSL returns from an 11-day holiday break on Friday to host Illinois Springfield in the Great Lakes Valley Conference opener for both teams. The Tritons will also entertain McKendree on Sunday. UMSL is looking to snap a two-game losing skid after starting the season 8-0.

UMSL IN GLVC OPENERS
UMSL is 6-12 in GLVC openers and opens the conference slate against Illinois Springfield for the first time. This marks the second straight year and the fourth time in the last nine years that the Tritons are tipping off the GLVC schedule at home.

HOME SWEET HOME
UMSL owns a 359-210 (.631) record in its home facility - the Mark Twain Building. The arena opened in the fall of 1971 and during the 1971-72 season, the Tritons posted a 13-0 record on their new home court. They were 12-4 last season at home and are off to a 5-0 start this year.

LAST TIME OUT
UMSL played its last two games in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., prior to the holiday break. The Tritons suffered a 67-59 loss to West Texas A&M on Dec. 20 and an 82-58 loss at Nova Southeastern on Dec. 21. It was the first two losses of the season for UMSL. The Tritons entered the contest averaging nearly 11 three-pointers made per game and shooting 43.3 percent from long range, but netted a combined 11 long balls, shooting just 24.4 percent from beyond the arc.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Senior Aareon Smith averages team-bests of 15.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, while junior Tre Ogles follows with 10.3 points per game. Junior Kevin Swanson adds 10.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, while freshman Max Cook and junior Derek Williams are averaging 2.7 assists per game. Williams and junior Brandon Marquardt each own a team-high 11 steals, while Marquardt leads the team with 19 three-point baskets.  

WELCOME BACK TYLOR
Senior Tylor Wimbish returned to the court for the first time this season in UMSL's games in Florida and responded by averaging 9.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game off the bench, including 12 points and 12 rebounds against West Texas A&M.

FROM THREE-POINT RANGE
The Tritons have netted 98 three-point buckets, an average of 9.8 per game, which is second in the GLVC and 25th in NCAA DII. Junior Brandon Marquardt has drained a team-best 19 three-pointers, while senior Derek Shouse has 17. Seven different players have made at least eight three-pointers this season. The Tritons are shooting 39.8 percent from beyond the arc, which ranks third in the GLVC and 42nd in NCAA DII.

FRESHMAN ORIENTATION
Freshman Max Cook is the only true freshman to see playing time this season, averaging 16.9 minutes per game. He is the team co-leader in assists (2.7 apg) and has just two turnovers for an assist-turnover ratio of 13.5.

AT THE CHARITY STRIPE
Senior Aareon Smith is averaging 8.4 trips to the free throw line per game, where he is 65-of-84 (.774). He ranks 20th in NCAA DII in free throws made and 23rd in free throws attempted.

WITH ITS NEXT WIN...
... UMSL head coach Bob Sundvold will win his 150th career game, including his 25th at UMSL.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Illinois Springfield is 6-2 overall, the program's best start in the Division II era under first-year coach Bill Walker. The Prairie Stars are limiting opponents to just 35 percent shooting to rank first in the GLVC and are led by Mark Weems' 15.3 points per game. Four different players average double figures, including Dylan Sparkman, who adds 13.4 points per game to go with a team-best 6.9 rebounds per game.

McKendree enters a Friday contest at Maryville with a 6-1 overall record. The Bearcats lead the GLVC in scoring defense, allowing just 61.3 points per game and are second in field goal percentage defense at 38.9 percent. Brandon Book averages team-bests of 14.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, while Logan Carson follows with 13.4 points and 3.8 assists per game.

SERIES HISTORIES
UMSL is 6-2 all-time against Illinois Springfield and has won the last three meetings, including a 69-67 decision in Springfield last season behind then junior Derek Shouse's game-winning three-pointer with 1.9 seconds on the clock.

UMSL is 13-5 all-time against McKendree and has won six straight, including a 105-78 victory last season in Lebanon, Ill.

GLVC PRESEASON POLL
UMSL was picked to finish second in the West Division of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Drury was a unanimous selection to win the West Division, garnering all 15 possible votes as conference policy prohibits coaches from casting a vote for their own team. The Panthers amassed 120 points to take the top spot, while UMSL recorded 95 points in the annual poll and picked up one first-place vote. Quincy finished third in the preseason poll behind UMSL with 79 points, just ahead of fourth-place Truman State with 77 points.  Maryville sits fifth with 72 points, followed by William Jewell in sixth with 53 points, seventh-place Missouri S&T with 42 points, and Rockhurst in eighth with 30 points.

Bellarmine just beat out Lewis for the top spot in the GLVC East Division preseason rankings.  The Knights grabbed six of those first-place nods for a total of 102 points in the poll. In addition to the Knights, three other schools earned the remaining 10 first-place votes. Lewis earned five of those votes for 96 points, followed closely by the 2013-14 co-GLVC East Division Champions in Indianapolis and Wisconsin-Parkside in third and fourth, respectively. UIndy grabbed three first-place markers and 93 points total, while the Rangers brought in 90 points and two first-place votes. Southern Indiana assumes the fifth spot with 79 points. Illinois Springfield ranked sixth with 39 points, Saint Joseph's was seventh with 36 points, and McKendree was picked eighth with 33 points.

UP NEXT
UMSL travels to Lewis and Wisconsin-Parkside next Thursday and Saturday, respectively, in GLVC play.