SETTING THE SCENE
UMSL plays a pair of GLVC games this week - both against fellow Central Division opponents - with one on the road and one at home. The Tritons travel to Illinois Springfield on Thursday before returning home to host McKendree on Saturday. UMSL and UIS sit in a tie for second place in the GLVC Central Division standings with 2-2 records and are a half game behind leader Maryville, while McKendree is a game back at 1-3.

SIZING UP THE TRITONS
UMSL is 7-6 overall and is coming off an 84-73 overtime loss at Southern Indiana last Thursday in which the Tritons were outscored, 11-0, in the extra period. UMSL is 1-4 on the road, including 1-2 in GLVC road games, and is 4-1 at home. The Tritons defeated then No. 20 ranked William Jewell, 77-74, on December 7 in their only other home GLVC game.

UMSL is in fifth place in the GLVC standings based on the league's point rating system, which will be used to determine the eight qualifying teams for the 2018 GLVC Tournament.
 
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
• UMSL ranks fourth in the GLVC and 44th in NCAA DII in fewest turnovers with 160, or an average of 12.3 per game.

• Three players average double figures, including seniors Steven Davis and Elijah Watson and junior Johnathan Matthews. Davis averages a team-best 12.8 points per game to go with a team-high 39 three-pointers. His 3.00 three-pointers is third in the GLVC  and ranks 41st in NCAA DII. Matthews follows with 11.9 points per game and has scored in double figures in the last five games, netting a season-high 18 points twice, including in the overtime loss at Southern Indiana. Watson adds 10.8 points and leads the GLVC with 5.6 assists per game, which ranks 33rd in NCAA DII.

FRESHMAN ORIENTATION
Freshman Jose Grubbs is one of three true freshman in the rotation and is averaging 8.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game to go with a team-high 20 steals. He is coming off back-to-back 13-point games.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Illinois Springfield is 10-4 overall, including 2-2 in the GLVC and are in 13th place in the league standings based on the GLVC Point Ranking System. The Prairie Stars are led by their defense, which ranks third in the GLVC in scoring defense (70.9 ppg) and field goal percentage defense (42.4) and is first in three-point shooting defense (31.5). UIS also ranks second in steals with 8.1 per game. Senior guard Eddie Longmeyer ranks seventh in the GLVC with 17.7 points per game and also adds 7.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

McKendree enters a Thursday home game against Maryville with a 10-4 overall mark, including a 1-3 conference mark, and has lost two straight. The Bearcats, 4-1 on the road, are tied for eighth place in the GLVC based on the Point Ranking System. Justin Banks averages 20.4 points per game, including 19.5 in GLVC-only games, and has 32 three-pointers.

SERIES HISTORIES
UMSL is 9-2 all-time against Illinois Springfield and has won six straight with the last two being determined by one point. The Tritons earned a 66-65 win in Springfield last season and posted a 72-71 win at home during the 2015-16 season.

UMSL is 15-6 all-time against McKendree despite the Bearcats earning a 79-69 win in Lebanon, Ill., last year.  

UP NEXT
UMSL hosts Maryville next Thursday at 7:30 p.m. before traveling to Quincy next Saturday.