ST. LOUIS, MO. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team erased a 13-point second half deficit to force overtime, but came up short in an 84-81 loss to visiting Saint Joseph's on Saturday afternoon in Great Lakes Valley Conference action.
 
The Tritons slip to 8-7 overall, including 2-3 in the GLVC, while the Pumas improve to 7-7 and 1-3 in the league.
 
Saint Joseph's took its largest lead of the game with 5:26 to play in regulation at 67-54 on a second of two free throws from CJ Hardaway, but from there, UMSL followed with a 15-2 run to pull even at 69-69 with 12 seconds remaining on a pair of Hunter Reine free throws. Reine recorded six points during the run.
 
Junior D.J. White then blocked Kindred Williams' game-winning shot attempt under the basket with .07 seconds on the clock to help force the extra period.
 
Another pair of Reine free throws in OT gave UMSL a 76-74 advantage with just under two minutes to play, but the Pumas knotted it up on a layup before sealing the game at the free throw line, netting all eight attempts in the final 45 seconds.
 
White led the Tritons by equaling a career-best 16 points and pulling down a career-best 15 rebounds for his third double-double of the year. Reine added his fifth double-double of the year with 14 points and 11 rebounds. White also blocked three shots, while junior Elijah Watson recorded five assists.
 
UMSL, which led 31-30 at halftime after jumping out to a 9-0 start, shot 40.3 percent, and held a 49-48 rebounding advantage, while Saint Joseph's shot 39.2 percent. Both teams pulled down 15 offensive rebounds.
 
The Tritons return to the court next Thursday, traveling to Romeoville, Ill., to face Lewis at 7:30 p.m.