The UMSL men's basketball team is back on the right side of the win-loss column.

After dropping the 68-67 heartbreaker Friday at Rockhurst, the Tritons tightened up the belts and finished the weekend with the 71-61 win at William Jewell Saturday afternoon.

The win puts the Tritons at 13-5 overall and 7-4 in the GLVC as they head home and begin preparations for Drury -- whom they meet Thursday at Chuck Smith Court.

The Tritons set the tempo early, authoring a 20-13 run and closed out the first half with the 39-31 lead.

In the second, it was more balance as the Tritons used strong offensive and defensive possessions to create some breathing room.

But with 8:46 remaining, Jordan Jermain was fouled and hit all three from the line as the Cardinals took the rare lead, 56-55.

But in pure UMSL fashion, the intensity ratcheted up at an opportune time as they produced an 11-3 run to increase the lead to 67-58 -- giving them all the cushion they needed to close out the road trip 1-1.