ST. LOUIS -- The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team cruised to a 76-55 win over William Jewell on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon at the Mark Twain Building. The Tritons improve to 16-12, 10-9 GLVC and keeps their playoff hopes alive while the Cardinals drop to 17-8, 13-5 GLVC.

WJC scored the first four points before Makeer Makeer answered with a layup in the paint. Jake Hamilton scored a layup on the next possession to even the score before the Cardinals scored a three-pointer to stay just in front of UMSL.

Both teams traded makes through the middle of the half before a layup by Colby Dolphin at the nine-minute mark gave the Tritons a one-point lead. UMSL maintained that one-point lead through the five-minute mark of the half before free-throw shooting by Demetris Phillips and a layup by Makeer extended the lead.

An eight-point run to close out the first half sent the Tritons into the locker room up 33-22. Phillips made a three-pointer at the one-minute mark before Miles Boland sank a three at the buzzer.

UMSL jumped out in the second half with a five-point run thanks to a layup by Hamilton and a three-pointer by Taye Moore. William Jewell answered with a three-pointer of their own but another six-point run kept the Tritons out in front.

A seven-point run in the middle of the half put UMSL up by 24 points and the Cardinals never found a shooting rhythm to close the lead. Free throw shooting in the final ten minutes helped the Tritons maintain their lead, as Boland converted both of his one and one opportunities.

A three-point make by Mason Dunlap and a layup by Israel Akeye closed out the game for UMSL, maintaining the 24-point lead despite a buzzer-beater three by William Jewell to finish the game.

The Tritons shot 53 percent (28-for-53) from the floor including 6-of-19 from three and 82 percent at the foul line. They outrebounded the Cardinals 38-to-26 and blocked six shots in the contest. Moore led all scorers with 23 points and was joined in double figures by Phillips with 17 off the bench and Boland dropped home 13.

William Jewell was held 18-of-55 shooting (33 percent) for the contest including 8-of-26 from three but shot 61 percent at the foul line. Justice Sutton led the Cardinals with 13 points four rebounds and two steals.

UMSL concludes the regular season on Thursday (Feb. 26) traveling to Springfield, Mo., to take on Drury at 7:45 p.m. at the O'Reilly Family Events Center.