SETTING THE SCENE
UMSL hosts a pair of GLVC games in the Mark Twain Building this weekend, beginning Thursday against Rockhurst and concluding on Saturday against No. 5 Bellarmine.   

SIZING UP THE TRITONS
UMSL is looking to snap a two-game losing skid, which dropped them to 8-9 overall, including 3-5 in the GLVC... UMSL is 5-2 at home, including 2-1 in the GLVC... five of its GLVC games have been decided by five points or less with UMSL going 3-2 in those games... all 12 players have started at least one game... senior Elijah Watson is the only player to start every game he has played in (15)...  the Tritons are in third place in the GLVC Central Division standings and are in 10th place in the GLVC Point Rating System, which is being used to determine the eight qualifying teams for the 2018 GLVC Tournament.  
 
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
• The Tritons are third in the GLVC and 53rd in NCAA DII in fewest turnovers (12.4 per game).
• UMSL is third in the league and 53rd in DII in scoring defense (69.9 ppg).

Three players average double figures, led by senior Steven Davis' 11.5 per game. Davis also leads the team with 41 three-pointers, having made at least one in all but one game. He ranks seventh on the career three-pointers made charts with 133.

Junior Johnathan Matthews follows with 11.1 per game and leads the team in free throws made (46) and attempted (59).

Senior Elijah Watson adds 10.7 points per game and leads the GLVC and ranks 44th in NCAA DII with 5.2 assists per game.

Freshman Anthony Hughes is averaging 7.1 points and 2.1 rebounds, and has reached double figures in four straight, averaging 12 points during that stretch.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Rockhurst is 9-9 overall, including 3-6 in the GLVC and have dropped five of their last six. The Hawks, 4-3 in road games, take 44 percent of their shots from three-point range, averaging 8.9 per game, which is fifth in the league. However, Rockhurst is second to last in shooting percentage from long range (34.5 percent). Curtis Lewis averages 16.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.

Bellarmine, ranked fifth nationally in NCAA DII, enters a Thursday game at Indianapolis with a 17-1 overall record, which includes an 8-1 mark in the GLVC. The Knights are 4-1 in road games, with their lone setback coming at UW-Parkside (80-68; 1/13/18). Bellarmine leads the league in scoring defense (61 ppg) and has allowed just 58.7 ppg to conference opponents. The Knights also top the conference stats in field goal percentage (52.7) and assists (18.8 apg). Adam Eberhard averages 15.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.3 steals per game.

SERIES HISTORIES
UMSL is 20-21 all-time against Rockhurst. The Hawks posted a 77-68 win in Kansas City, Mo., last season to snap a four-game losing streak to the Tritons.

Bellarmine has a 21-11 advantage over UMSL all-time and has won four straight, including a 73-56 decision in St. Louis last year. The Tritons and Knights have gone to overtime five times with UMSL holding a 3-2 advantage in those games.

UP NEXT
UMSL is at Lewis and Wisconsin-Parkside next Thursday and Saturday, respectively.