ST. LOUIS, MO. – The University of the Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team fell behind 17 points and couldn't overcome the first half deficit in a 68-64 loss to visiting Maryville on Saturday in Great Lakes Valley Conference action.
The Tritons slip to 4-5 overall, including 0-3 in the GLVC, while Maryville moves to 3-6 and 1-2 in the league.
The Saints built a 37-20 halftime lead as UMSL shot just 25 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes of play.
A 12-6 start by the Tritons to open the second half cut the deficit to 43-32 on a traditional three-point play from freshman
Joshua Webster, while a layup from junior
Tre Hymer brought UMSL within 49-41 with 11:42 to go.
Maryville later used a 9-2 run to push the lead back to 66-51 with just over four minutes on the clock before UMSL closed the game by outscoring the Saints, 13-2. However, the Tritons couldn't get a bucket when they needed it. The Saints kept the Tritons in the game by missing four free throws in the final 1:11. Their last score came at the 2:17 mark.
Hymer paced UMSL with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while senior
Brandon Marquardt went 4-of-6 from three-point range to finish with 14 points. Junior
Joseph English added 11 points.
The Tritons shot 38.2 percent and committed 16 turnovers with Maryville outscoring its hosts, 21-7, on points off turnovers.
The Saints shot 52.8 percent and owned a 38-32 rebounding advantage.
UMSL will return to action next Saturday against Trevecca Nazarene at the Maryville Tournament.
