SETTING THE SCENE
UMSL opens the New Year by returning its focus to the remainder of the GLVC slate, while also wrapping up a 12-game homestand when it hosts No. 1 ranked Bellarmine on Thursday and Southern Indiana on Saturday. The Tritons are 1-1 in league play after getting a sneak peek in December with a win over McKendree and a loss to Illinois Springfield.
 
SIZING UP THE TRITONS

• UMSL is 10-2 overall, having won three straight, and is 8-2 at home.
• The Tritons finished with a 9-1 record in non-conference games, marking the program's most non-league wins since joining a conference (MIAA in 1981-82).
• Three players average double figures, led by senior Johnathan Matthews' 14.1 points per game. Matthews averaged 10.2 ppg in the first six contests, which included two games of not scoring, but has put up 18 ppg in the last six games. He is shooting48.7 percent (18-of-37) from three-point range during that stretch.
• Matthews also leads the GLVC in free throw shooting percentage (93.9), which ranks seventh in NCAA DII.
• Junior Ronnie Carson adds 13.0 ppg, while senior Eric Dust adds 11.9 points and a team-best 6.4 rebounds per game.
• Sophomore Anthony Hughes, who sat out the first semester, made his debut in last Saturday's win over Principia, scoring 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three-point range.
• The Tritons lead the league in steals (9.00 spg), are second in the league in field goal shooting percentage (50.6) and third in assists (17.67 apg).

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Bellarmine, ranked No. 1 in NCAA DII, is 10-0 overall and defeated Southern Indiana, 92-80, in its GLVC opener. The Knights average 85.7 points per game and lead the GLVC in scoring defense (65.3) and field goal shooting (58.6 percent). Three players average double figures, including Adam Eberhard, who's 20 points per game is fourth in the GLVC.
 
Southern Indiana enters a Thursday contest at Maryville at 8-3 overall, including 0-1 in the GLVC. The Screaming Eagles will be playing their first pair of true road games, having gone 4-2 at home and 4-1 on neutral sites. Five players average double figures, including Alex Stein, who averages a GLVC-best 21.3 points per game.
 
SERIES HISTORIES
UMSL is 11-22 against Bellarmine and has lost five straight. The Tritons' last win came in 2012-13, when UMSL upset the No. 4 ranked Knights, 87-82, in double OT.  
 
UMSL is 11-37 against Southern Indiana and has lost 15 straight, including an 84-73 overtime decision in Evansville last year.
 
UP NEXT
UMSL travels outside the St. Louis area next weekend and plays its first true road games, traveling to Illinois Springfield and McKendree on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.