SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team defeated Ferris State 81-79 in the opening round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday night at The Recreation and Athletic Center in Springfield, Ill. The win makes Head Coach Bob Sundvold the winningest coach with 215 passing Rich Meckfessel for most in UMSL history. The Tritons are now 20-11 on the season while Ferris St. finishes the season 25-9.
 
Savon Wykle opened the game with a jump shot, but it was three-point shooting that carried UMSL, seeded fourth, to an early 13-5 lead in the opening five minutes. First Matt Enright and then Janeir Harris made their shots early to continue the Tritons scoring momentum.
 
It was midway through the first half when Ferris State, seeded fifth, started eating into UMSL's early lead. Back to back layups by Wykle and Emanuel Prospere II gave the Tritons a ten-point lead.
 
Despite the Bulldogs comeback attempts, UMSL found different answers. With just under five minutes to go in the first it was Troy Glover II's turn to keep momentum with the Tritons. Glover made a defensive rebound before during it into a two-point hook shot make on the other side.
 
UMSL headed into the locker room with a 40-36 lead as Ethan Erickson made a layup with 12 seconds left for Ferris State.
 
The Tritons and Bulldogs traded offensive makes early in the second half. Enright got UMSL going with a layup while Ferris State more consistently found the basket. Just under four minutes in, the Triton lead had been cut to one, but Harris made a layup on the next play to pull UMSL back to a three-point lead.
 
Owen Hardy tied the game at 47 for the Bulldogs before Enright made all three of his free-throws to reestablish a three point Triton lead. He added a three-pointer a minute later before hitting another three to give the Tritons an eight-point lead and snap Ferris State's attempt at momentum.
 
The Tritons led by as many as 14 at 70-56 with 5:23 before Erickson got hot scoring the next 16 points for the Bulldogs to cut UMSL's lead to four with 1:36 remaining. The Tritons got a layup from Glover to extend the lead to six but Erickson hit another trey to make it a one possession game with less than a minute remaining.
 
UMSL hit three of its next four foul shots to stretch the lead back to six. A free throw from Reed Hazelton made it a five-point game and then Tyler Hamilton threw in a shot at the buzzer for the final margin.
 
UMSL shot 58 percent (28-for-58) from the field, including 8-of-18 from three and shot 74 percent at the foul line. Enright led the way for the Tritons with 25 points, five rebounds, and one steal. Glover had a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
 
Ferris State shot 47 percent (29-for-62) from the field, was 13-of-27 from three but shot 67 percent from the free throw line. Erickson led the Bulldogs with 24 points, 19 coming in the final 5:23, and four rebounds. Hazelton added 11 points and seven rebounds.
 
The Tritons take on top seeded Missouri S&T on Sunday at 7:30pm in the second round of the NCAA Midwest Regional tournament at The Recreation and Athletic Center.