ST. CHARLES, MO. – Host Lindenwood shot 59.6 percent, including 66.7 percent in the second half, to hand the visiting University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team a 86-77 loss on Saturday in the Tritons' final non-conference game of the season.
 
UMSL, which had a four-game win streak snapped with the loss, slips to 8-5 overall, while Lindenwood improves to 10-5.
 
The Tritons shot 48.1 and made 11-of-22 three-pointers, while Lindenwood was 12-of-23 (52.2 percent) from long range.
 
UMSL, which connected at a 54.2 percent clip in the first half, jumped out to an early 11-2 lead two minutes into play, connecting on its first four field goals, including three three-pointers. A three-pointer from freshman Kobe Wands at the 11:31 mark gave the Tritons their largest lead at 23-13, but the Lions followed with a 23-6 run over the next six minutes 20 seconds to surge ahead, 36-29. Lindenwood knocked down four three-pointers during that stretch and scored nine points off four UMSL turnovers.
 
Wands then scored eight straight for the Tritons, which included three free throws at the 2:05 mark to pull his team within 39-37. However, Lindenwood finished with an 8-1 run to take a 47-38 lead into halftime.
 
The Lions posted a 17-point advantage early in the second half at 62-45 before a 14-7 run by the Tritons cut the deficit to 66-59 just under the 12-minute mark, but UMSL would get no closer.
 
Junior Steven Davis led the Tritons with 17 points, netting 5-of-8 three-pointers, while adding three assists and two blocks. Wands followed with 14 points, while senior Joseph English added 13 points and four assists. Senior Hunter Reine also got into double figures with 12 points and eight rebounds.
 
Lindenwood held a slim 29-27 rebounding advantage and was led by Chandler Diekvoss' 29 points and eight rebounds.
 
UMSL returns to GLVC play on Thursday, hosting Indianapolis at 7:30 p.m.