UMSL Wins Season Opener 70-57

Griffin Nearly Records Triple Double in Victory

St. Louis, Mo. – The UMSL men’s basketball team opened the season with a win over Central Bible College, winning 70-57. Jonathan Griffin (St. Louis, Mo./Normandy) led the Riveremen with 13 points, and nearly recorded a triple double with nine assists and eight rebounds.

After scoring the first four points of the game, the Rivermen struggled, giving up five straight points to the Spartans. Central Bible would extend their lead to six points at 15-9 at the 12:29 mark before UMSL came back and tied the game at 17-17 on a jumper by Aaron Jackson (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central). The Spartans came right back with six straight points to lead 24-18. UMSL would climb back into it and led 27-26 after another jumper by Jackson, but a pair of Spartan free throws gave Central Bible the one-point lead at halftime at 28-27.

UMSL came out strong to start the second half, scoring the first five points of the half to take a four-point lead at the 18-minute mark. Leading by one point, the Rivermen then went on a big run, scoring nine straight, including four by Derrell Minner (New Madrid, Mo./New Madrid Central) to lead 46-36 with 14 minutes left. UMSL would push that lead to as many as 13 points after a fast break dunk by Minner, Central Bible would score the next eight points to get within five, but the Rivermen got a layup from David Ward (Maryland Heights, Mo./DeSmet) to start an 8-0 run and UMSL never looked back from there, going on to a 70-57 victory.

The Rivermen were had a well balanced attack, led by Jonathan Griffin with 13 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Chris Mroz (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick) added 11 points and Troy Slaten (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette), David Ward and Derrell Minner each scored nine points in the win.

UMSL is 1-0 on the new season and will be in action again next Tuesday when they host Missouri Southern for a 7 pm start.