ADA, OKLA. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team tried to recover from an 18-point second half deficit, but fell short in its rally in a 91-87 loss at East Central in the final nonconference game of the year.
 
The Tigers took their largest lead of the game at 77-59 with 8:46 to play before a 10-0 run by the Tritons closed the gap to 77-69 three and a half minutes later. UMSL pulled within six four times in the final 1:22, but East Central helped preserve the win by going 8-of-12 at the free throw line, while junior Joseph English's three-pointer at the buzzer accounted for the final score.
 
UMSL slips to 6-6 overall, while East Central improves to 7-3. The Tritons finish nonconference play with a 5-3 record. They resume GLVC play next weekend, beginning Thursday at Saint Joseph's with an 0-3 record.
 
The Tritons were led by senior Brandon Marquardt's 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while freshman Joshua Webster followed with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists. Junior Alex Majewski added 12 points, 10 of which came in the first half.
 
The hosts clung to a 49-47 halftime lead after netting a three-pointer at the buzzer. UMSL erased East Central's 29-19 lead with 11:29 to play with a 14-4 run, knotting the score at 33-33 on a Marquardt three-pointer at the 6:35 mark.
 
The Tigers then opened the second half with a 13-5 scoring advantage, putting the lead back into double figures at 62-52. An 11-2 run later made it 77-59.
 
UMSL shot 54.4 percent, while East Central shot 47.5 percent and owned a 36-31 rebounding advantage, including a 13-5 edge on the offensive end, outscoring UMSL, 20-8, in second chance points.

Stirling Thomas and Braxton Reeves scored 28 points each for the Tigers, combining for 12 three-pointers with Reeves knocking down seven.