LEBANON, Ill. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team's second half rally came up short in its 82-78 loss to McKendree at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center on Thursday evening in Lebanon, Ill. The Tritons drop to 12-9, 6-6 GLVC while the Bearcats improve to 16-4, 9-3 GLVC.

UMSL got off to a slow start missing its first seven shots from the field as McKendree jumped out to an early five-point lead. The Tritons got going offensively responding with a 9-1 run to take its largest lead of the game at 11-8 after Demetris Phillips made 1-of-2 free throws.

The Bearcats answered back with eight straight points to grab a 16-11 lead after two free throws from Justin King. UMSL countered back with seven straight points getting two points each from Taye Moore, Phillips and Makeer Makeer to take its last lead of the game at 17-16 with 7:13 to play in the opening half.

Cha'vez Woods hit a three on the ensuing possession to give McKendree the lead back. The Bearcats led by as many as six with less than two minutes to play in the half but a 5-0 run from UMSL cut the lead to one at 36-35 on a jumper from Moore with 0:14 left in the frame. It appeared the Tritons would go into the locker room down just one at the break but King hit a layup just before the buzzer to give the Bearcats a three-point cushion at the break.

McKendree was red hot to start the second half knocking down nine of its first 10 shots but every time the Bearcats would stretch its lead UMSL rallied. It trailed by as many as nine with 14:52 left in the contest but the Tritons cut it to one at 73-72 after a three-point play from Jake Hamilton.

The Bearcats led by seven after two free throws from Andrew Moore with 1:02 left but a four-point from Moore on the ensuing possession brought UMSL within 81-78 with 0:47 left. The Tritons got a stop on the defensive end as Woods missed a three and Hamilton came down with the rebound.

After a timeout, Colby Dolphin got a clean look at a game-tying three but his shot rimmed out and Woods got the board. Moore fouled Woods with 4.2 seconds remaining and Woods sealed the victory hitting one of two at the foul line.

UMSL finished the game shooting 39 percent (22-for-56) from the field including 9-for-26 from three and shot 86 percent at the foul line. Moore finished with a game-high 25 points. He was joined in double figures by Hamilton with 15 points and 10 rebounds while Phillips added 12 points.

McKendree shot 57 percent (26-for-46) from the floor including 7-of-16 from three and shot 72 percent at the foul line. Woods led four Bearcats in double figures with 21 points.

The Tritons travel to Springfield, Ill., to take on Illinois Springfield at 3 p.m. from The Recreation and Activities Center (TRAC).