ST. LOUIS, MO. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team fended off visiting Missouri Western on Friday as the Tritons opened play at their own UMSL Thanksgiving Classic with a 74-61 win.
 
The Tritons saw the Griffons erase a 10-point deficit, but finished the game with a 17-2 run to collect the win. Sophomore Shane Wissink scored nine of his game-high 17 points during that stretch.
 
Records: UMSL (5-1), Missouri Western (4-3)
 
How it Happened
UMSL clung to a 34-32 halftime lead after an opening half that saw six ties and eight lead changes. Both teams held leads of five points.
 
UMSL took a pair of 10-point leads late in the second half, including 57-47 with 5:39 to play before Missouri Western reeled off 12 unanswered on four three-pointers to pull ahead 59-58. Junior Ronnie Carson then sunk two free throws to re-give the lead back to UMSL for good. The Tritons scored the game's final nine points.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Junior Josh Carter added 15 points, which included a 9-of-10 performance at the free-throw line, while also grabbing five rebounds.
• Carter followed with 13 points, while senior Eric Dust and redshirt freshman Steve Webb added 10 points each. Web added three steals.
• UMSL shot 45.3 percent, while Missouri-Western connected at a 42.3 percent clip and held a 35-30 rebounding advantage.

 
Up Next: UMSL wraps up its own Thanksgiving Classic tomorrow at 3 p.m. against Central Missouri, an 83-76 winner of Maryville in today's first game.