EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. - No. 4 University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball will play in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship game on Sunday, Mar. 6 at 3:30 p.m. after defeating No. 8 William Jewell College in the GLVC Semifinals on Saturday, 59-53. In the game, Shane Wissink drained a three early to tie Barry Graskewicz (88-92) for most three-point field goals in a career at UMSL with 185. The game was a physical battle that resulted in both teams shooting below their season average.

The Tritons (23-6) started the game on an 11-3 run capped by Shane Wissink's record-tying three. 

William Jewell (15-15) went on an 8-2 run to pull within two points. The teams continued to trade small runs throughout the first half.

The Tritons would score the final five points of the half to take a 31-21 lead into halftime.

The Tritons led 41-30 with 14 minutes to play in the second half when William Jewell sparked a comeback. The Cardinals scored nine unanswered points including five points by Jordan Jermain to cut the UMSL lead to two points.

Yaakema Rose Jr. answered by driving and getting fouled to head to the free throw line. Rose Jr. sank both to give UMSL a four-point cushion.

The Cardinals threatened again when Mason Alexander drained three-pointers at the five and four minute marks to again pull within two points, 51-49.

With 3:41 to play, Shane Wissink got a full head of steam and drove the lane to finish a layup and get fouled. Wissink missed the free throw, but Rose Jr. grabbed the offensive rebound and hit a jumper in the paint to push the lead back to six points.

WJC was able to pull back within two points, 55-53, with a minute to go, but Marty Jackson was solid from the charity stripe making four free throws to finish off the Cardinals.

Marty Jackson led all scorers with 21 points and recorded a double-double with 12 rebounds. Yaakema Rose scored 12 points. Steve Webb added 10 points and six rebounds. Jose Grubbs scored nine points and had six boards.

Shane Wissink had five points, including a record-tying three in the first half. Wissink has a chance to take sole possession of the record for most three-point field goals in a career at UMSL when the Tritons play in the GLVC Championship game Sunday, Mar. 6 at 3:30 p.m. in First Community Arena in Edwardsville, Ill.

UMSL will play the winner of No. 2 Lewis University and No. 7 University of Indianapolis. The winner of the GLVC Championship receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament.

The Tritons return to the GLVC Championship for the second time in three years. The Tritons lost to Truman State University 53-52 in the 2019-20 GLVC Championship in Edwardsville, Ill.