SETTING THE SCENE
Following an eight-day layoff for final exams, UMSL returns to the court on Monday and Tuesday for a pair of games at the Maryville Classic. The Tritons will face Oklahoma Christian on Monday and Purdue Northwest on Tuesday. Both games will tip off at 1 p.m.
 
SIZING UP THE TRITONS
UMSL has won three straight and is 6-3 overall. The Tritons are 1-0 in neutral site games, having defeated Grand Valley State, 64-62, in their season opener on the home court of Ferris State.
 
Among UMSL's wins in its current win streak is a 77-74 victory over then No. 20 and previously unbeaten William Jewell on December 7. The Tritons are coming off a 110-44 victory over Central Christian on December 9 in their last outing.
 
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
• The offense is led by seniors Steven Davis and Elijah Watson. Davis averages 13.6 points per game and has a team-best 29 three-pointers, while Watson follows with 11.4 points and 6.6 assists per game.
 
• Junior Johnathan Matthews follows with 11.2 points per game and leads the team at the free throw line, having made 28-of-36 (77.8 percent).
 
• GLVC and national stats leaders

• Watson leads the GLVC and is 15^th nationally in DII in assists per game (6.6)
• Watson leads the GLVC and is 23^rd in DII in total assists (59)
• Watson is fourth in the GLVC and 35^th in DII in assists-turnover ratio (2.95)
• Davis is second in the GLVC and 57^th nationally in three-point field goal attempts (71)
• Davis is second in the GLVC and 40^th in DII in three-pointers per game (3.22)
• Davis is third in the GLVC and 51^st nationally in total three-pointers (29)

               
FRESHMAN ORIENTATION
Freshman Jose Grubbs is coming off back-to-back season-highs in scoring. He tallied 12 points in the upset win over William Jewell, only to score 15 against Central Christian. On the season, Grubbs is averaging 7.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 52.7 percent from the field.
 
Freshman Anthony Hughes adds 5.8 points per game, while Shane Wissink has seen action in all nine games, averaging 2.3 points and 1.6 assists per game.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Oklahoma Christian enters a Friday home contest against Eastern New Mexico with a 2-6 record. Elijah Strickland averages 21.3 points per game, having drained 32 three pointers and is shooting 45.7 percent from long range. The senior guard has also made 44 trips to the free throw line, where he is connecting at a 77.3 percent clip.
 
Purdue Northwest (0-9) will host Grand Valley State on Saturday before traveling to St. Louis and will face Maryville on Monday before Tuesday's game against UMSL. The Pride are led by Torrance Johnson's 13.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Purdue Northwest averages 19 fouls per game, allowing opponents to score an average of 15.9 points per game at the free throw line.
 
SERIES HISTORIES
UMSL will face both Oklahoma Christian and Purdue Northwest for the first time in program history.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Tritons will have seven days off following Tuesday's game for the NCAA Division II's mandatory winter break before returning to practice on December 27. UMSL resumes play on December 31, hosting Lindenwood.