SETTING THE SCENE
UMSL looks to stay in the win column and head into a 22-day layoff on a positive note when the Tritons host Hannibal LaGrange on Friday. The Tritons, who will be playing their 10^th game of the season, will be idle until December 29.
 
SIZING UP THE TRITONS

• UMSL is off to an 8-2 start for the first time since 2014-15. The Tritons are 6-2 at home and in game number nine of a 12-game homestand that concludes in early January.
• The Tritons are shooting 50.4 percent from the field, which ranks second in the GLVC and 25^th in NCAA DII. Redshirt junior Jason Towery (65.5 percent) and senior Eric Dust (59.1 percent) lead the team.
• Senior Johnathan Matthews leads the GLVC and is 10^th in NCAA DII in free throw shooting percentage (95.0), having made 38-of-40 attempts.
• Sophomore Shane Wissink leads the league and is fifth in DII in steals (25).
• Six players average between 8.3 and 13.5 points per game, while UMSL has had five players in double figures four times.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Hannibal LaGrange, a member of the NAIA, is 3-2 overall, but will play Friday night's game as an exhibition. All three wins for the Trojans have come on the road. They've played one other GLVC team, falling at Maryville, 78-47. Brady Smith averages 23.1 points per game, while another two players average double figures. They rank second in the NAIA in three-point field goal percentage, limiting opponents to 25.9 percent shooting.
 
SERIES HISTORY
UMSL won its only other meeting with Hannibal LaGrange, a 79-58 victory during the 2013-14 season, which was Bob Sundvold's first season at the helm.
 
UP NEXT
UMSL will wrap up its non-conference slate on Saturday, Dec. 29, hosting Principia.