ST. LOUIS, MO. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team suffered its first loss on Thursday night with an 85-76 defeat to No. 25 ranked Missouri Southern State. The visiting Lions made 14 three-pointers en route to the win.
 
Records: UMSL (3-1), Missouri Southern State (2-1)
 
How it Happened
Missouri Southern raced out to a 17-4 lead, knocking down 6-of-7 field goals, including all five three-pointers. Then with the Lions holding a 34-23 advantage at the 8:15 mark, UMSL went on a 13-3 run, pulling within 37-36 on a pair of Johnathan Matthews free throws. The Tritons later took their first lead of the game at 48-47 with 1:47 to play on a lay-in by sophomore Jose Grubbs. MSSU took a 51-50 lead into the break after a first half that saw five technical fouls and the two teams combine to shoot 56 percent from the field.
 
After a pair of free throws by junior Ronnie Carson gave UMSL a 58-56 lead four minutes into the second half, MSSU went on a 10-3 run for a 66-60 advantage. UMSL got within one twice in the next three minutes, including 68-67, but the Lions followed with nine straight.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Matthews scored a season-high 18 points, going 10-of-11 at the free-throw line.
• Carson recorded a team-high 20 points, while senior Eric Dust (13) and redshirt freshman Steve Webb (10) also got in double figures.
• The Tritons shot 40.4 percent and held a 38-31 rebounding advantage, including an 11-8 edge on the offensive end, but were outscored, 18-8, in second chance points.
• Sophomore Shane Wissink dished out five assists and tallied four steals.
• UMSL was 25-of-27 at the free throw line.
• Missouri Southern shot 50.8 percent and was led by Elyjah Clark's 23 points on six three-pointers.

 
Up Next: UMSL will host St. Louis College of Pharmacy on Monday at 7 p.m.