ST. LOUIS – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team jumped out to an early six-point lead but was unable to sustain the early momentum as it fell to No. 7 Central Oklahoma 89-59 on Tuesday on the final day of the High Desert Classic at Desert Oasis High School in Las Vegas, Nev.
The Tritons (5-7) got seven points from
Terrell Kabala and six more from
Emanuel Prospere II to take a 13-7 lead more than seven minutes into the game. The Bronchos (11-1) answered with an 8-0 run to take a 15-13 lead on a three from Mike Quick.
UMSL tied the game momentarily on a layup from
Savon Wykle but UCO retook the lead on another three from Quick and wouldn't trail the remainder of the contest. Kabala hit a jumper in the paint to bring the Tritons within one but that was the closest they'd get the rest of the way as the Bronchos scored the next 14 points in the span of 2:23 to extend its lead to 15.
The two sides exchanged baskets over the final six minutes of the half as UCO took a 44-27 lead into the intermission.
The Bronchos opened the second half with the first six points to extend its lead to 23 points.
UMSL cut the lead to 19 with 5:38 to play but wouldn't get any closer as UCO finished the game scoring 18 of the final 25 points to seal the victory.
The Tritons finished the game shooting 47 percent from (25-for-53) from the floor but were 4-of-17 from three and shot 83 percent at the foul line. Kabala led UMSL with 15 points while Prospere II added 12 points and
Troy Glover II finished with 10 points.
The Bronchos shot 59 percent (33-for-56) from the field in the contest including 9-of-19 from three and shot 88 percent at the charity stripe. They outrebounded the Tritons 29-23 and forced 20 turnovers resulting in 26 points. Quick finished with a game-high 19 points off the bench while Danquez Dawsey added 17 points and nine assists and Jaden Wells chipped in with 14 points.
UMSL returns to the court on Wednesday (Jan. 3) as it takes on crosstown rival Maryville at 3:15 p.m. at Moloney Arena at the Simon Athletic Center.
