ST. LOUIS – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team couldn't overcome a second half rally in its 72-63 loss at Maryville on Thursday evening at Moloney Arena. The Tritons drop to 18-8, 10-8 GLVC while the Saints improve to 15-11, 8-10 GLVC.

The two sides struggled to shoot the ball in the first 20 minutes as UMSL was 11-for-31 (35 percent) from the field while Maryville was held to 29 percent (8-of-27) from the floor.

The Tritons led by as many as five with 13:06 left in the stanza after a layup from Victor Nwagbarocha. UMSL still led by four with seven minutes remaining in the half but went cold over the next six minutes but continued to stay in front as the Saints struggled to score too.

Maryville went on a 7-2 run over the span of five minutes to take its only lead of the frame after a three from Harrison Vickers to put them in front 23-22 with 1:20 left in the half. The Tritons got back-to-back three's from Nwagbaraocha and Bowen Sandquist in the final minute to take a five-point lead into the break.

UMSL stretched its lead to as many as seven early in the second half but the Saints got hot in the final 20 minutes shooting 54 percent from the floor including 7-of-12 from three.

The Tritons led 40-37 after two free throws from Drew Cisse with 12:43 left in the contest. Maryville then went on a 9-2 run over the next two-plus minutes to build a four-point lead after a three-pointer from Dylan Ingram.

It would be a lead it wouldn't relinquish. UMSL wouldn't get closer than two points the rest of the contest as the Saints led by as many as 13 after a free throw from Trey Redd with 0:37 left.

The Tritons got a three from Sandquist and a steal and score from Isaiah Fuller in the final 0:20 to cut the deficit to single digits but it wouldn't be enough as Maryville sealed the game with a free throw in the final seconds.

UMSL finished the game shooting 36 percent (21-for-59) from the field but was 6-of-20 from three and shot 83 percent at the foul line. Nwagbaraocha led the Tritons with 16 points while Fuller added 15 points, Sandquist had 13 points and Cisse finished with a double-double recording 10 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.

The Saints shot 42 percent (22-for-53) in the contest including 12-of-24 from three and shot 62 percent at the foul line. Ben Palacios led all scorers with a game-high 19 points. He was joined in double figures by Redd with 13 points, Ingram chipped in with 12 points and Dewayne Vass finished with 11 points.

UMSL is back in action next Thursday (Feb. 23) as it hosts sixth ranked Indianapolis at 7:30 p.m. at the Mark Twain Building.