UMSL Wins GLVC Opener with Third Straight Victory

Five Players in Double Figures for Rivermen

Louisville, Ky. – The UMSL Rivermen won their conference opener with a road win at Bellarmine, 77-68, on Saturday. Five UMSL players scored in double figures, led by Larry Wells with 15 points.

The Rivermen took the lead early in the first half at 9-6 on a three-pointer by Larry Wells at the 12:19 mark, and never gave up the lead the rest of the game. UMSL led by as many as ten points, 31-21, and took a 34-26 lead going into halftime. The UMSL defensive pressure in the first half limited the Knights to just 26 points in the first half. Bellarmine entered the game averaging 90 points per game.

UMSL came out an expanded on the lead in the second half, going up by as man as 14 points at the 15:47 mark after a jumper by Qwanzi Samuels put the Rivermen up 49-35. UMSL’s biggest lead came at the 5:31 mark after a jumper by Jonathan Griffin made it 71-55 for a 16-point lead, before Bellarmine mounted a comeback. The Knights cut the UMSL elad to just five points at 73-68, but late free throws by Ronnie Banks helped UMSL hold on to the 77-68 win.

The Rivermen were led by Larry Wells with 15 points. Ronnie Banks and Qwanzi Samuels each had 13 points. Jonathan Griffine had 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds and Daryl Saine chipped in ten points. UMSL shot 46.2% (30-for-65) from the field in the game and hit 12-of-17 from the line.

UMSL is now 3-1 on the season after winning their third straight game. The Rivermen will be in action again on Monday night when they play at Northern Kentucky.