KIRKSVILLE, MO. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team erased a nine-point halftime deficit en route to claiming a 61-58 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory at Truman State on Thursday night.
 
Sophomore Anthony Hughes scored 12 points to lead the Tritons, knocking down 4-of-7 three-pointers, including 3-of-4 in the second half to help his team outscore their hosts, 39-27, in the final 20 minutes.
 
Records: UMSL (13-4, 4-3 GLVC), Truman State (8-9, 3-4 GLVC)
 
How it Happened
Truman State scored eight unanswered late in the first half, turning an 18-18 tie into a 26-18 advantage before taking a 31-22 lead at the break after knocking in a three-pointer before the buzzer.
 
UMSL shot just 33.3 percent from field in the opening half, including 2-of-11 from three-point range.
 
Truman took its largest lead of the game at 38-26 four minutes and 15 seconds into the second half, before the Tritons used eight straight to ignite a 14-3 run for a 48-46 lead with 7:06 to play on sophomore Anthony Hughes' three-point basket. Hughes later drained his fourth long ball with 1:18 to go to give UMSL its largest lead at 59-53 and the Tritons hung on despite making just 3-of-7 free throws in the final minute.
 
UMSL shot 50 percent in the final 20 minutes, while limiting the Bulldogs to a 30.8 percent clip.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Senior Johnathan Matthews added 11 points.
• UMSL finished the game shooting 41.8 percent and held a 42-32 rebounding advantage, including an 11-6 edge on the offensive end.
• Redshirt junior Jason Towery pulled down eight boards, while Hughes and senior Eric Dust had six each.
• Truman State shot 37 percent.
• Sophomore Jose Grubbs collected three steals.

 
Up Next: UMSL concludes a four-game road swing at Quincy on Saturday.