ST. LOUIS, MO. – The No. 18 ranked University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball did what they do best – clamping down on defense in the final minutes of play to fend off No. 23 Indianapolis in a 69-66 victory Saturday afternoon in Great Lakes Valley Conference action.
 
The Tritons held the Greyhounds to just two points in the final five minutes, outscoring their guests, 9-2 to end the game, and forced a key turnover with five seconds to play.
 
The win kept UMSL undefeated at home (10-0) and snapped a 10-game losing streak to Indianapolis.
 
RECORDS
#18 UMSL (15-2, 6-1 GLVC), #23 Indianapolis (11-4, 3-4 GLVC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Greyhounds clung to a 37-34 halftime advantage after leading by as many as seven in the first half thanks to 6-of-12 shooting from three-point range.
 
UMSL made just 1-of-6 field goals to start the second half, while UIndy built a 46-38 lead. However, the Tritons answered with 10 straight and took their first lead of the game at 12:29 on a bucket from redshirt sophomore Steve Webb.
 
Six straight by the Greyhounds turned the lead back in their favor at 62-58 before they scored on a layup with 5:41 to play for a 64-60 lead, but the Tritons then followed with seven straight and took a 67-64 lead they would not relinquish at the 1:54 mark on a jumper from junior Yaakema Rose Jr.
 
With the Tritons leading by two at 68-66 and UIndy with the ball, Rose Jr. forced a turnover and recorded the steal.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Senior Jalen Wilkins-McCoy scored a game-high 20 points, including 16 in the first half with 10 of those coming on five dunks.
• Junior Shane Wissink added 12 points, knocking down four three-pointers, while redshirt senior Jason Towery followed with 11 points.
• Rose Jr., who entered the game averaging 17.8 points in GLVC games, was limited to nine points, but scored six of those in the final 6:41.
• Webb finished with nine points and five assists.
• UMSL shot 42.6 percent, while UIndy shot 45.3 percent and finished 10-of-23 from three-point range.
• The Tritons were outrebounded for the first time in 11 games (35-32).
• UMSL equaled a season-low five turnovers.

 
UP NEXT
UMSL opens a three-game road trip at Lindenwood on Monday.