UMSL Falls 79-73 at Arkansas Tech

Slow Start too Much for Rivermen

Russellville, Ark. – The Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team fell behind early and could not overcome a slow start, losing 79-73 at Arkansas Tech. The game was the first outside the city of St. Louis for UMSL this year as the Rivermen fall to 8-2 on the season.

UMSL fell behind early, as Arkansas Tech used a 9-0 run to turn a two-point deficit into a seven-point lead at 14-7 as the Rivermen fell behind by as many as nine points in the first half. UMSL would fight back and cut the deficit to just two points after a three pointer by Troy Slaten (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette) made it 18-16, but ATU responded by scoring the next seven points and the Wonder Boys took a 36-30 advantage into halftime.

ATU got the first five points of the second half to push their lead out to 11 points at 41-30 in the opening minutes. UMSL would be down by as many as 14 points before mounting a comeback. Trailing 53-39 with 13:30 left in the half, the Rivermen went on a 10-3 run over the next three minutes to make it 56-49. UMSL would get even closer over the next ten minutes, and after a three pointer by Chris Mroz (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick), the Rivermen were down just four points at 67-63 with just under four minutes remaining. UMSL would twice get the deficit down to just three points, but ATU hit free throws in the closing minuites to hold off the UMSL charge as Arkansas Tech held on for the 79-73 win.

UMSL was led by Jonathan Griffin (St. Louis, Mo./Normandy) and Troy Slaten who each scored 16 points on the night. Derrell Minner (New Madrid, Mo./New Madrid Central) added 10 points in the loss.

The Rivermen are now 8-2 on the season after their first game played outside St. Louis this year. UMSL opened up the year with eight straight home games before playing at Harris Stowe on December 20.