ST. LOUIS, MO. – Senior Elijah Watson scored a season-high 24 points, including the game-winner with 0.9 seconds to play, to help the University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team to a 59-57 win over visiting McKendree on Saturday afternoon.
 
Records: UMSL (8-7, 3-3 GLVC), McKendree (10-6, 1-5 GLVC)
 
How it Happened
Watson scored nine of UMSL's final 14 points while freshman Anthony Hughes scored the other five. Hughes scored all five in a 41-second span, which included a three-pointer and a layup that knotted the score at 55-55 with 1:06 to play. Watson then followed with two free throws with 38 seconds on the clock, while McKendree netted the tying bucket 16 seconds later.
 
The Bearcats used a 23-6 run to erase a 37-22 deficit two minutes into the second half and took their first lead at 45-43 with 8:45 to play. A layup with just over two minutes on the clock made it 55-50 in favor of McKendree before Hughes' five-point burst.
 
The Tritons raced out to a 13-0 lead and posted their largest lead of 26-10 at the 4:37 mark on a pair of Steven Davis free throws. The Bearcats ended the half on a 12-4 run to get within 33-20 at the break.
 
Numbers of Note
- Hughes tied a season-high 14 points.
- UMSL shot 39.6 percent, while McKendree shot 36.5 percent.
- Both teams pulled down 35 rebounds.
- Watson was 8-of-12 at the free throw line and also dished out three assists, while grabbing eight rebounds.
- The Tritons had three true freshmen in the starting lineup with Jose Grubbs and Shane Wissink, in addition to Hughes.  
 
Triton Tidbits
UMSL improves to 5-1 at home, including 2-0 in GLVC home games… UMSL improves to 16-6 all-time against McKendree.
 
Up Next
UMSL returns to action on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. against crosstown rival Maryville.