UMSL Falls to 12th-Ranked Screaming Eagles

Evansville, Ind. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men’s basketball team fell to the nationally ranked University of Southern Indiana 83-61 Thursday night.

USML started off slowly as USI jumped out to a quick 13-0 start. The Rivermen would be down by as many as 16 two different times during the first half before UMSL responded pulled within nine points after a layup by Nathan Whittaker with 4:42 remaining in the half. USI would quickly score again but Dave Ward made another layup to bring UM-St. Louis back within nine points to enter halftime trailing 39-30. The Rivermen would bring the game within six points to start out the second half after a three point play by Octavious Hawkins. The Screaming Eagles quickly responded with a 15-0 run to stretch out the lead by 21 and bring the game to 54-33 with 15:07 remaining. UMSL would get within 13 points after a three-point basket by Brett Ledbetter at the 11:16 mark but that is as close as the Rivermen would get as USI went on to win 83-61.

UMSL was led in scoring by Troy Slaten with 17 points as he hit 5-of-9 from the three-point line. Octavious Hawkins added 15 points and Dave Ward scored 10 points.

The University of Missouri-St. Louis men’s basketball team is now 8-11 overall and 3-8 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Rivermen will be on the road again on Saturday as they take on Kentucky Wesleyan at 3:15 pm.