UMSL Surges to Win Over Harris Stowe

Rivermen Hit Free Throws Down Stretch to Secure Win

St. Louis, Mo. – The Missouri-St. Louis men’s basketball team overcame a second half rally by Harris Stowe for a 98-85 win over the Hornets. Aaron Jackson (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central) recorded a career best 16 points and seven rebounds in the win for the Rivermen.

Harris Stowe got out to the quick start, scoring the first six points of the game and led 10-4 three minutes into the game. UMSL would fight back and took a 13-12 lead on a steal and fast break layup by Sherome Cole (Sikeston, Mo./Sikeston). With the game tied at 16-16, UMSL’s Chris Mroz (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick) hit a three pointer to ignite a 9-2 run that put UMSL ahead by seven points with 11 minutes left in the half as the Rivermen would use another late half run to take a 51-38 advantage into the halftime break. In the second half, UMSL came out and extended that lead to 24 points at 80-56 with 8:10 left in the game. The Hornets would fight back and cut the lead to just nine points at 83-74 with just over four minutes remaining, but UMSL hit ten straight free throws in the closing minutes for the 98-85 win.

UMSL was led by Jonathan Griffin (St. Louis, Mo./Normandy) with 17 points and six rebounds. Aaron Jackson had a couple of career highs with 16 points and seven rebounds. David Ward (Maryland Heights, Mo./DeSmet) and Nathan Whittaker each had 12 points and Troy Slaten (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette) and Chris Mroz (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick) each had 10 points in the win.

The Rivermen will take a break for the Holiday before returning to action with a road game at Arkansas Tech on Wednesday, December 28, at 7 pm.