Slow Start Hampers UMSL

Minner Records Double-Double in UMSL Loss

St. Louis, Mo. – UMSL fell behind early against Quincy and fought from behind the rest of the game and saw a second half rally fall short as the Rivermen fell 87-76 to the visiting Hawks.

Quincy got off to a quick start, jumping out to a ten-point lead in the opening four minutes of the game. After the two teams exchanged buckets in opening possessions, Quincy reeled off ten straight to lead 12-2. UMSL slowly chipped away at the lead, and tied the game at 15-15 on the three-point field goal by Sherome Cole (Sikeston, Mo./Richland). Quincy came right back with nine straight points and pushed their lead out to as many as 15 points at 32-17 with six minutes left in the half. UMSL would continue to fight back, scoring seven straight points during one stretch that included three pointers from Cole and Chris Mroz (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick), and the Rivermen went into halftime trailing by six, 42-36. Derrell Minner (New Madrid, Mo./New Madrid Central) helped keep UMSL in the game during that first half, scoring a career high 13 points in the opening half.

The Hawks came out in the second half and scored the first two buckets to quickly push their lead up to ten points and forced UMSL to play from behind the rest of the second half. The Hawks pushed their lead out to as many as 16 points at 59-43 with just over 13 minutes remaining, but UMSL fought back. The Rivermen went on a 15-2 run over the next four minutes to cut the lead down to just three points. During that run, UMSL got six points from Jonathan Griffin (St. Louis, Mo./Normandy) and four from Aaron Green (St. Louis, Mo./Riverview Gardens). Quincy broke the run with a fast break layup, but UMSL got two more free throws from Green on the next possession to keep it at a three-point game, 63-60, with just over seven minutes remaining. The Hawks then took off with a run of their own, outscoring UMSL 13-1 over the next four minutes to retake control of the game and hold on from there for the 87-76 win.

UMSL was led by Derrell Minner with his first career double double, setting career highs with 15 points and 11 rebounds while hitting 7-of-11 from the field. Jonathan Griffin led UMSL with 18 points on the night and Sherome Cole added 13 points off the bench.

The Rivermen fall to 5-11 on the season and 3-8 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. UMSL will be on the road this weekend for a nonconference game at Lincoln on Saturday at 5 pm.