ST. LOUIS – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team had four players reach double figures in scoring but it wouldn't be enough as Rockhurst shot 65 percent from the field in the second half to pull away for an 88-71 win on Saturday afternoon at the Mark Twain Building. The Tritons drop to 6-7, 4-2 GLVC while the Hawks improve to 11-4, 5-2 GLVC.
UMSL shot 50 percent (14-for-28) from the floor in the opening half while holding Rockhurst to 9-of-27 shooting from the field to take a 32-29 lead into the locker room at the break. The Tritons led by as many as seven in the frame.
UMSL scored six of the first eight points to start the second half to match its largest lead of the game at 38-31 after
Troy Glover II hit one of two free throws.
The Hawks got a four-point play on their next possession as Brian Hawthorne hit a three from the top of the key and hit the accompanying free throw sparking a 15-4 run for Rockhurst that gave them a 46-42 lead.
The Tritons fought back tying the game at 55 after a layup from
KC Udolisa but the next trip down the floor for the Hawks, Hawthorne hit a layup and was fouled for a three-point play. A technical foul on the play made it a five-point possession for Rockhurst and it wouldn't look back.
That sequence sparked the game deciding run as the Hawks outscored UMSL 33-16 over the final 8:17 for the final margin.
Rockhurst was 17-for-27 from the field in the second half including 7-of-10 from three and was 14-for-14 at the foul line.
The Tritons shot an even 50 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes but it wasn't enough as they were 3-of-9 from three and 6-for-9 at the foul line.
Savon Wykle led four UMSL players in double figures with 17 points while
Emanuel Prospere II added 15 points with seven rebounds,
Matt Enright had 14 points and Glover II finished with 13 points.
Jesse White led the Hawks with a game-high 27 points and was joined in double figures by Hawthorne with 20 points.
The Tritons host Southwest Baptist on Monday (Jan. 13) at 5 p.m. at the Mark Twain Building.
