UMSL Uses Three-Point Shooting to Beat UMR

Rivermen Beat Miners 68-60

Rolla, Mo. – The Missouri-St. Louis men’s basketball team used deadly three-point shooting to secure a winning season for the first time since the 2000-01 season with a 68-60 win at Missouri-Rolla on Tuesday night. The Rivermen hit 9-of-16 from three-point range, led by Troy Slaten (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette) and Chris Mroz (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick) with four three pointers each in the win.

UMSL grabbed an early lead in the first half. With the game tied at 5-5, the Rivermen scored six straight points, starting with a three pointer from Troy Slaten (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette). The Miners would keep it close, and eventually took a one-point lead with 2:42 left in the half, but UMSL responded with three straight to take a 27-25 lead going into halftime.

In the second half, UMSL got two straight three pointers from Troy Slaten to start the half and push their lead out to eight points at 33-25. UMR made a run and cut the lead down to four points when the Rivermen came right back with six straight points, capped by a three pointer from Chris Mroz (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick) to give the Rivermen a ten-point lead. UMSL would hold that lead until late, when would get back-to-back buckets to cut it to a six-point lead at 62-56 with just over two mintues remaining. After the team exchanged a pair of points, the Miners got a basket with 1:10 left in the game to make it a four-point game at 64-60. UMSL would then hit free throws down the stretch to secure the 68-60 win.

UMSL was led in scoring by Troy Slaten and Jonathan Griffin with 16 points each. Slaten hit 4-of-6 from three-point range in the game, while Griffin hit 12-of-15 from the free throw line. Chris Mroz scored 12 points off the bench, hitting 4-of-5 from three-point range in the win. UMSL hit 9-of-16 (.563) from three-point range as a team in the game.

The Rivermen are now 14-12 on the season and 6-12 in the GLVC. The win assures UMSL of having a winning season on the year for the first time since the 2000-01 season. UMSL will wrap up the regular season on Saturday when they travel to play at Southern Indiana.