ROLLA, MO. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team saw Missouri S&T rally back from a 19-point deficit, but was able to fend off the Miners to secure the 89-85 road win Thursday night in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.
 
The Tritons shot a season-best 61.5 percent from the field and overcame 13 three-pointers by the hosts. Senior Brandon Marquardt scored 19 points, while junior Alex Majewski followed with a career-best 16 points. Sophomore Drew Skaggs added a career-high 11 points, while also grabbing four rebounds and dishing out three assists.
 
UMSL improves to 11-14 overall, including 5-11 in the GLVC with the key victory that keeps their bid for a GLVC Tournament alive. Missouri S&T slips to 8-17 and 4-12 in the league.
 
Majewski capped a 15-2 run in the second half with a pair of free throws as the Tritons took their largest lead of the game at 65-46 with 10:55 to play. However, the Miners answered with nine straight, pulling within 65-55 two minutes later and got within single digits at 71-62 at the 7:03 mark. Then after sophomore Max Cook's two free throws gave UMSL a 77-65 lead with 5:46 remaining, the hosts used an 11-4 run to trim the deficit to 80-76 on its 12^th three-pointer of the game at the 2:49 mark, but the Miners would get no closer.
 
The Tritons closed out the first half with a 15-5 run over the final five minutes and 27 seconds en route to posting a 46-34 halftime lead. UMSL shot 67.8 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes, while Missouri S&T shot 41.7 percent, despite going 7-of-11 from three-point range.
 
The Miners shot 45.4 percent and owned a 37-24 rebounding advantage, including a 17-4 edge on the offensive end, outscoring the Tritons, 18-6, in second chance points.
 
UMSL continues its five-game roadtrip to wrap up the regular season on Saturday, traveling to GLVC West Division leader Drury.

TRITON TIDBITS: UMSL avenged a home loss to the Miners earlier this season (85-81), in which Missouri S&T overcame a 17-point deficit… senior Brandon Marquardt is seven three-pointers shy of tying the program's single season record of 84... UMSL has had nine GLVC games decided by five or fewer points - the Tritons are 3-6 in those contests, having won their last three.