Slow Start Dooms Rivermen in Loss to Panthers

UMSL Falls 93-72 at Kentucky Wesleyan

Owensboro, Ky . – The UMSL Rivermen got off to a slow start Thursday night at Kentucky Wesleyan, a start that doomed UMSL from the beginning in a 93-72 to the Panthers.

Kentucky Wesleyan opened the game with the first bucket, getting a three pointer from Dewayne Rogers, and UMSL followed with a layup from Ike Attah (Port Harcourt, Nigeria) to make it 3-2 at the 18:20 mark in the first half. From there, the Panthers would score the next 24 points over a seven-minute span and led UMSL 27-2 just nine minutes into the game. The Rivermen, though in a big hole, failed to cave in after the slow start and outscored KWC 25-17 over the last 11 minutes of the half, but still trailed 44-27 going into halftime.

The Panthers got off to a quick start again in the second half, going on a 9-2 run in the first three minutes of the second half to spoil any UMSL hopes of a comeback. The Rivermen failed to give in easily, playing the Panthers evenly the rest of the game and cut the lead down to 15 points at 71-56 after a three pointer by Ronnie Banks (Birmingham, Ala./Phillips) with 8:25 remaining. UMSL could get no closer the rest of the game however, eventually falling 93-72.

UMSL was led by Ronnie Banks who had 21 points on the night, including 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range. Jonathan Griffin (St. Louis, Mo./Normandy) added 12 points and Kevin Nordmann (Webster Groves, Mo./Webster Groves) scored 12 points off the bench for the Rivermen.

UMSL is now 9-13 on the season and 5-10 in the GLVC. The Rivermen will be on the road again on Saturday for an afternoon game at Southern Indiana.