KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The fourth ranked University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team had its 12-game winning streak snapped in an 88-81 loss against Rockhurst on Thursday evening at Mason-Halpin Field House in Kansas City, Mo. The Tritons fall to 12-1, 4-1 GLVC while the Hawks improve to 8-5, 3-2 GLVC.

Rockhurst scored the first five points of the game but UMSL countered with a 12-5 run to take its only lead of the game on a layup by Dylan West at the 13:21 mark of the half. The Hawks sandwiched runs of 10-0 and 9-0 around a conventional three-point play from Janeir Harris to take its largest lead of the stanza at 29-15.

The Tritons chipped away at the lead getting a jumper from Matt Enright and a three-pointer from Trever Moore to cut the deficit to nine with less than four minutes to play in the half but Rockhurst scored four straight to push the lead back to double digits.

Bowen Sandquist hit a three-pointer right before the half ended to bring UMSL within 35-27 at the intermission.

The Hawks opened the second half on a 6-2 run to extend its lead to 12 points. The Tritons countered with a 7-1 run to get within 42-36 after a layup by Isaiah Fuller on the break after a steal by Victor Nwagabaraocha with 16:15 remaining.

Rockhurst answered right back with a 15-3 run to extend its lead to 57-39 after a layup from Timaris Brown with 11:08 to go.

UMSL cut the lead to 14 but the Hawks scored nine of the next 13 points to grab its largest lead of the game at 69-50 at the 6:53 mark.

The Tritons still trailed by 18 with five minutes to play before chipping away to get within seven after a three-pointer by Bowen Sandquist with 1:38 left. UMSL had a chance to get closer after a steal by Drew Cisse but Sandquist missed a three and Jake Auer got the rebound.

The Tritons were forced to foul to extend the game but Rockhurst hit 9-of-10 free throws in the final 1:22 to hold on for the win.

UMSL finished the game shooting 53 percent (30-for-57) from the field including 9-of-24 from three but shot 55 percent at the foul line. Sandquist finished with 18 points to lead the Tritons while Donovan Vickers added 17 and Fuller finished with 12 points.

The Hawks shot 50 percent (21-for-42) from the floor, were 8-of-20 from three and shot 88 percent (38-for-43) at the charity stripe. Rich Byhre had a game-high 27 points while Auer and Brown added 16 and 11 points respectively.

UMSL is back at home on Saturday hosting Maryville at 3 p.m. at the Mark Twain Building.