UMSL Returns from Holiday with Win Over Blackburn

St. Louis, Mo. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men’s basketball team defeated Blackburn College 80-68 on Saturday night. The Rivermen were led by Brett Ledbetter with 17 points and connected on 30-of-36 (.833) from the free throw line as a team.

UMSL got the first four points of the game and opened up a quick seven-point advantage at 11-4 after a three pointer by Cody Kliethermes. The Rivermen would increase that lead out to 15 points at the 5:29 mark of the first half after a pair of free throws by Brett Ledbetter made it 31-16. Blackburn fought back at the end of the half, closing with a 9-2 run and cut UMSL’s lead to just six points, 36-30 at halftime.

In the second half, UMSL quickly pushed their lead out to ten points at 42-32 and after a three pointer by Brett Ledbetter at the 14:57 mark, the Rivermen led by 15 points, 51-36. Blackburn refused to fold and slowly chipped away at the lead, getting it town to just three points at 56-53. UMSL responded with a layup from David Ward and after another bucket by Blackburn, Ward answered again with another jumper to keep the Rivermen ahead by five, 60-55. Cody Kliethermes followed on the next possession with a three-point play to extend the lead to eight points at 63-55. Blackburn came back with a bucket of their own to cut the deficit to six points with six minutes remaining, but the Riverman went on a 10-0 run over the next four minutes to put the game away and went on for the 80-68 victory.

The Rivermen were led by Brett Ledbetter with 17 points in the game and Stanley Boateng added 16 points. Paul DeChellis and Cody Kliethermes each scored 12 points in the game. DeChellis, Octavious Hawkins and David Ward each had seven rebounds and Hawkins dished out seven assists. UMSL hit 30-of-36 from the free throw line as a team (.833) and out rebounded the Beavers 45-27.

UMSL is now 5-4 on the season and will be in action again next week when they host Quincy University for a GLVC matchup on Thursday, January 4, at 7:30 pm.