Ward Hits Game-Winning Shot in 78-76 Win

Rolla, Mo. – UMSL's David Ward hit the game-winning shot with 0:01 second left to give UMSL the 78-76 win at Missouri-Rolla on Saturday after trailing by 17 points in the first half. Ward led the Rivermen with 23 points in the game, and Brett Ledbetter added 18 points.

In the first half, Missouri-Rolla took control of the game, leading by 17 points at 29-12 with just under ten minutes left in the half. UMSL then scored the next 11 straight points, started by a three pointer from Cody Kliethermes, that cut the lead to just six points at 29-23. UMSL could close to within one at 31-30 after a three pointer by Brett Ledbetter and went into halftime trailing by four points, 36-32.

UMR got a quick start to the second, expanding their lead to seven points at 45-38 with 16:41 remaining. Trailing by six, UMSL got a three-point play from David Ward and a layup from Octavious Hawkins to get within one at 48-47. The Miners would again push their lead back up and led by nine points, 66-57 with 6:43 remaining.

The Rivermen used a 13-0 run over the next three minutes to get their first lead of the game. Brett Ledbetter started the run with a three-point field goal, followed by seven straight points from David Ward, and capped of with another three pointer from Ledbetter that gave UMSL a 70-66 lead with 3:22 left. UMR stayed within reach from there, and tied the game at 76-76 with 24 seconds remaining. UMSL's David Ward then hit the game-winning basket with 0:01 left on the clock for the 78-76 win.

UMSL was led by David Ward with 23 points, including the game-winning bucket, on 9-of-13 shooting from the field and 5-of-7 from the line, and Brett Ledbetter had 18 points. Paul DeChellis and Octavious Hawkins both recorded a double-double. DeChellis had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Hawkins had 10 points, 11 rebounds and dished out seven assists.

The Rivermen are now 8-10 on the season and improve to 3-7 in the GLVC. UMSL will be on the road next weekend to play at Southern Indiana on Thursday, February 1, and at Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday, February 3.