UMSL Squanders Second Half Lead, Falls to Rolla

Rivermen Drop 50-44 Game on the Road

Rolla, Mo. – The UMSL men's basketball team led for 37 of the 40 minutes against UM Rolla on Saturday, but trailed in the final minutes to lose 50-44 to the Miners.

UMSL dominated the opening half of action, scoring the first five points of the half and lead 17-4 ten minutes into the half after a fast break dunk by Glenn Keller (Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington). The Rivermen held that lead until late in the half, giving up a three-pointer in the final couple of minutes of the half, but still led by nine points, 25-16, at halftime. In that first half, the UMSL defense limited Rolla to 26.1% shooting from the field (6-of-23) and forced 14 turnovers by the Miners.

The second half appeared to be under control in the opening minutes as well, as UMSL led 31-20 after a jumper by Jared Pratt (Elsberry, Mo./Elsberry) with 14:52 left in the game. Rolla then started to chip away at the UMSL lead from that point on. After a jumper by Jonathan Griffin (St. Louis, Mo./Normandy) gave UMSL a nine -point cushion at 38-29, Rolla then scored the next six points to make it a two point game at 38-36.

The Rivermen then got a big three pointer from Ronnie Banks (Birmingham, Ala./Phillips) to make it 41-36, but the Miners rallied back and scored six straight points, the last two on a jumper by Brian Westre to give Rolla its first lead of the game at 42-41 with 3:24 left to play. Jonathan Griffin then hit a free throw to tie the score and after a bucket by Rolla, Jo'Van Fisher (East St. Louis, Mo./Althoff) hit a jumper to tie it again at 44-44 with two minute remaining. Rolla would then score the final six points of the game for the 50-44 win.

UMSL was led by Jonathan Griffin, the only Rivermen in double figures, with 13 points and eight rebounds. UM Rolla was led by Brian Westre with a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The Rivermen fall to 5-4 on the season and will have a break over the Christmas Holiday before going back in action at SIU Edwardsville on January 2.