JOPLIN, MO. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team suffered a 74-58 loss at Missouri Southern on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Tritons saw the host Lions use a late first half run before pulling away in the second half by shooting 66.7 percent.
 
Senior Elijah Watson led the Tritons with a season-best 17 points, six assists and five rebounds.
 
Records: UMSL (2-2), Missouri Southern (1-2)
 
How it Happened
- Missouri Southern ended the first half on an 11-1 run to take a 30-27 lead into the half. The Lions erased UMSL's seven-point lead with four minutes to go.
- Five straight by the Tritons, which included a jumper from senior Steven Davis and three free throws from junior Johnathan Matthews gave UMSL a 22-16 lead at the 6:41 mark, while junior Eric Dust later scored four straight to give his team its largest lead of the game at 26-19 two minutes later.
- The Lions pushed the lead into double figures at 52-40 with 11:39 remaining, while UMSL answered with an 8-3 spurt to pull within 55-48 90 seconds later, but Missouri Southern followed with seven straight.
 
Numbers of Note
- Three other Tritons scored in double figures, including Davis and Matthews, who each finished with 11 points.
- Dust finished with a season-high 10 points to go with eight rebounds and two blocked shots.
- UMSL shot 35.4 percent, while Missouri Southern connected at a 52.1 percent clip in its home opener and held a 41-30 rebounding advantage despite the Tritons controlling the offensive glass, 13-8.
-The Lions committed 17 turnovers to UMSL's 10, but the Tritons only held a 15-14 edge in points off turnovers.
- Outside of Watson's six assists, the Tritons just had one other assist.
 
Up Next
UMSL is at Indiana State on Wednesday in an exhibition game.