February 04, 2012

Men’s Basketball Fights Off 17-Point Deficit to Garner Win

Box Score

LIBERTY, MO. – Junior Joshua McCoy scored 20 of his career-high 26 points in the second half to help the University of Missouri-St. Louis men’s basketball team rally from a 17-point deficit en route to a 67-62 win at William Jewell Saturday afternoon in Great Lakes Valley Conference action.

The Cardinals (7-12, 4-9 GLVC) posted their largest lead of the game at 54-37 with 9:51 to play, but from there the Tritons outscored their hosts 30-13 to end the game and improve to 15-6 overall, including 10-3 in the GLVC.

McCoy scored 13 of his points in the final 6:41, including a 9-of-10 performance at the free throw line, and his second shot from the charity stripe with 1:42 to play gave UMSL a 61-60 lead it would not relinquish. Defensively, the Tritons held William Jewell to just three points and forced seven turnovers in the final five minutes.

Despite shooting just 26.7 percent in the first half, the Tritons went into halftime trailing only by three at 27-24 after five straight points by freshman Aareon Smith closed out the opening stanza. The Tritons began the game connecting on just two of its first 14 field goals.

UMSL knotted the score at 29-29 1:20 into the second half, but William Jewell followed with a 17-4 run to post a 46-33 lead with 12:44 to play.

McCoy also collected four steals, while senior Troy Long added 14 points, three assists and three steals. Long scored nine of his points in the final eight minutes.

The Tritons finished the game shooting an even 40 percent from the floor, while William Jewell connected at a 53.8 percent mark and held a 31-30 rebounding edge. UMSL controlled the offensive boards, 13-4. Smith pulled down a career-best 12 rebounds and added eight points. The Cardinals were led by Nick Larson’s 23 points and 19 rebounds.

The Tritons return home Thursday night, hosting Missouri S&T at 7:30 p.m. UMSL closes out the regular season with four of its final five games at home. UMSL is 9-0 at home this season.

TRITON TIDBITS: UMSL completes the season-sweep of William Jewell with the win after posting a 69-68 victory in St. Louis two weeks ago… the win snapped a three-game GLVC road losing streak… UMSL improves to 9-3 all-time against William Jewell… UMSL ties a school-best 10 GLVC wins – matching the 10 won by last year’s team… UMSL’s lead in the GLVC West Division is once again two games after Quincy’s loss at Drury.