BOLIVAR, MO. – A strong second half powered the No. 23 ranked University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team to an 84-68 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory at Southwest Baptist on Saturday afternoon. It was the 13^th straight victory for UMSL.
 
The Tritons outscored their opposition, 49-36, over the final 20 minutes behind 57.1 percent shooting, which included a 10-of-15 performance (66.7 percent) from three-point range.
 
Redshirt sophomore Kellen King scored 15 of his career-high 19 points in that second half on five long balls and finished 6-of-8 from beyond the arc.
 
UMSL and Southwest Baptist, one of two new GLVC members, were meeting on the hardwood for the first time since the 1995-96 season.
 
RECORDS
UMSL (14-1, 5-0 GLVC), Southwest Baptist (10-3, 3-2 GLVC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
UMSL clung to a 35-32 halftime lead despite shooting just 33.3 percent, equaling their second lowest first half outing of the season. Southwest Baptist's 12-8 advantage early in the half marked the largest lead for either team of the frame.
 
The Tritons then opened the second half with a 12-0 run to stretch the lead to 47-32. An 11-0 run late in the half put the game out of reach at 72-50 with 5:23 remaining.
 
UMSL finished the game shooting 44.3 percent and held a 41-29 rebounding advantage, including 16-8 on the offensive end. The Tritons equaled a season-high 14 three-pointers in 28 attempts. Southwest Baptist shot 44 percent.  
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Senior Jalen Wilkins-McCoy recorded his third double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
• Redshirt senior Jason Towery tossed in 16 points to go with six rebounds and four assists.
• Junior Yaakema Rose Jr. added 13 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists.
• UMSL had a 24-8 scoring advantage in second chance points.

 
UP NEXT
UMSL travels to No. 1 ranked Bellarmine on Thursday before hosting No. 16 ranked Indianapolis on Saturday.