SETTING THE SCENE
The Tritons hit the road for the final time during the regular season this weekend with trips to Illinois Springfield (Thursday) and to McKendree (Saturday). UMSL will then close out the schedule with a five-game homestand.
LAST TIME OUT
The Tritons went 0-2 last weekend on the other side of the state, falling to Rockhurst, 77-68, on Thursday before seeing William Jewell win at the free-throw line in the closing seconds in a 69-68 setback.
SIZING UP THE TRITONS
The Tritons are 9-11 overall, including 3-8 in the GLVC, where they sit in a tie for fifth place in the West Division standings... UMSL is in 11th place overall in the standings and is looking to stay in the top 12 to earn a spot in the GLVC Tournament... the Tritons are 4-7 on the road, including 2-5 in the GLVC... 12 different players have started at least one game, while nine different players have been the top scorer.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Senior
Hunter Reine and junior
Steven Davis have been the top two scorers all season, averaging 11.2 and 10.8 points per game, respectively.
Reine also averages a team-best 8.3 rebounds and is shooting 59.8 percent from the field, which currently ranks seventh on the program's single-season charts. He has five double-doubles and has pulled down double-digit rebounds seven times, including in two of the last three games.
82 percent of Davis' scoring comes from beyond the three-point line on a team-best 62 three-pointers, needing two more to crack the program's single-season top 10. He has made at least one three-pointer in all but three games and has eight games of four or more long balls, including two games of eight three-pointers (at Webster and vs. Truman State), one shy of the program single-game record. Davis is shooting 45.9 percent from long range, which ranks 12th in the GLVC and is third on the program's single-season charts. He is fourth with 2.95 three-pointers per game.
Junior
Elijah Watson adds 9.0 points and 3.1 assists per game and is coming off a career-high 27 points at William Jewell last Saturday.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Illinois Springfield is 7-13 overall, including 2-9 in the GLVC and has last four straight. The Prairie Stars are 4-8 at home, but 0-6 in home GLVC contests.
McKendree enters a Thursday home game against Maryville at 7-11 overall, including 1-9 in the GLVC. The Bearcats are 7-7 at home, but 1-6 in home GLVC contests.
THE SERIES
UMSL is 8-2 all-time against Illinois Springfield and have won five straight, while the Tritons are 15-5 all-time against McKendree. UMSL has won all four meetings against the Bearcats since they joined the GLVC with the last two being decided by a combined five points.
UP NEXT
UMSL begins a five-game homestand next Thursday against No. 17 ranked Southern Indiana.
