Junior forward Marty Jackson, UMSL’s top scorer and rebounder, will lead the Tritons into a big road contest, Friday night against Quincy University. (Photo: Nathan Assata)
UMSL Men’s Basketball – Gameday Info
Game No. 5 – UMSL Tritons (6-2) at Quincy Hawks (4-3)
Date/Time – Friday, December 10 – 7:30 pm
Location – Pepsi Arena – Quincy, IL
Broadcast – GLVC Sports Network
Radio – WGEM FM 105
Live Stats – Sidearm Stats
by Cedric Williams
Senior Editor
The University of Missouri-St. Louis men’s basketball team, which is one heart-crushing buzzer beater defeat away from owning sole possession of first place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Central Division standings, can pull into a second-place tie on Friday, if it can get a key road win against host Quincy University at the Pepsi Arena in Quincy, Ill.
UMSL, which is 6-2 on the season, is coming off an impressive win over crosstown rival, Lindenwood, last Saturday. The Tritons led that game almost start to finish, and never allowed the host Lions to get closer than six points in the second half.
On Friday, UMSL will be looking to do the same against a Quincy team that has lost two of its last three, including an overtime loss at Lindenwood last Thursday. The Hawks, who have a 4-3 record, could fall into last place in the GLVC Central with a loss.
Friday’s matchup is the last conference game for either club of the calendar year, which means the loser would be stuck in their position until after the conference season resumed in January.
The Tritons and Hawks have played 18 times in their history, with UMSL owning the all-time series lead 11-7. Those 11 victories include wins in four of the last five for the Tritons, including a season sweep last year.
Players to Watch: Friday’s contest figures to be a showdown of two of the best big man in the GLVC, when UMSL’s Marty Jackson will square off against Quincy’s Malik Hardmon.
Jackson is the Tritons’ leader in scoring and rebounding, where he averages 16.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Those numbers put Jackson seventh and ninth in the GLVC in scoring and rebounding, respectively.
One of the few players who’s gotten off to an even better start this year than Jackson, is Hardmon, who will come into Friday night averaging 18.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Those stats make Hardmon the GLVC’s third-leading scorer and eighth-leading rebounder this year.
The Tritons will also feature one of the GLVC’s top three-point shooters, in Jose Grubbs. The senior small forward has made 14 of 28 shots from beyond the arc, for a .500 shooting percentage, which is tied for fourth in the conference.
Another fun matchup to watch will be the battle between the point guards, where UMSL’s Yaakema Rose (11.0 ppg and 27 assists) will go against Quincy’s Jamaurie Coakley (8.7 ppg and 32 assists). Rose is also the GLVC leader in steals with 21 (2.63 per game).
Up Next: UMSL will play another road game on December 20, against Wisconsin-Parkside, before going on Christmas break.
The Tritons will then return for a home non-conference game on December 31 against Eureka College. GLVC league play will begin again for UMSL on January 4, when the Tritons will host Maryville.
Quincy’s next game will be an exhibition contest in Normal, Ill., against Illinois State on December 14.
The Tritons and Hawks will play a rematch in St. Louis on January 22.
Probable Starters
UMSL Tritons (6-2) Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. PPG RPG
2 Shane Wissink Sr. G 6-0 185 5.1 2.9
4 Yaakema Rose Sr. G 5-9 180 11.0 5.8
21 Marty Jackson Jr. F 6-6 190 16.8 6.8
23 Steve Webb Sr. G 6-2 195 4.9 4.0
35 Jose Grubbs Sr. F 6-3 195 13.0 4.4
Quincy Hawks (4-3) Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. PPG RPG
2 Mark Bradshaw, Jr. Jr. G 6-1 180 10.0 1.7
3 Charles Callier Sr. G 6-4 200 7.7 1.8
4 Jamaurie Coakley Sr. G 6-3 190 8.7 5.9
10 Nate Shockey So. G 6-3 185 11.7 3.0
15 Malik Hardmon Jr. F 6-6 190 18.8 7.0