UMSL Defense Keys Win Over Missouri-Rolla

Jonathan Griffin Records 14 Points, Joey Paul Scores 12 Points in Win

St. Louis, Mo. – The UMSL men’s basketball team continued their winning ways, fighting it out for a 71-61 win over Missouri-Rolla. UMSL had four players in double figures, led by Jonathan Griffin (St. Louis, Mo./Normandy) with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Joey Paul (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park) added a season best 12 points and had an outstanding game on the defensive end of the court for the Rivermen.

UMSL got off to a quick start, scoring the first six points of the game. The Miners came back to tie the game at 8-8, and the two teams began a series of three ties and six lead changes over the next 12 minutes. UMSL would grab the lead for good with 1:47 left in the half on a three pointer from Jonathan Griffin gave the Rivermen a 28-27 advantage. UMSL then got a three-point play from David Ward (Maryland Heights, Mo./DeSmet) to send the game to halftime with the Rivermen leading 33-29.

The Rivermen came out quickly in the second half as well, getting the first five points of the half, including jumpers from Troy Slaten (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette) and David Ward. After a bucket by UMR made it a seven-point game, UMSL scored eight straight points, capped off by a fast break layup by Joey Paul that put UMSL ahead by 15 points at 46-31 with 14 minutes to play. The Miners would fight back and cut the lead to as few a four points at 50-446 with just under 10 minutes remaining. With UMSL leading 54-50, Joey Paul hit two free throws to push the lead back up to six, but UMR came right back with two free throws of their own to make it 56-52. UMSL responded and again Joey Paul came through with a big three-point basket to make it a seven-point lead and UMSL was never threatened from there, holding on for the 71-61 lead.

UMSL was led by Jonathan Griffin with 14 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals on the night. Joey Paul had a season best 12 points, six rebounds and three steals. Paul’s biggest contribution came on the defensive end, where he held UMR’s Tyrone Davidson, who entered the game averaging a team best 18 points per game, to just four points on 2-of-9 shooting from the field. Troy Slaten and David Ward each had 11 points for the Rivermen in the win.

UMSL improves to 6-1 on the season and is 2-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Rivermen will have the week off before hosting Blackburn next Saturday at 7 pm.