After a pair of home wins last week, the UMSL Tritons will be on the road this weekend. (Photo courtesy: UMSL Athletics)
Torrance Terrell
Staff Writer
The No. 19-ranked University of Missouri-St. Louis men’s basketball team heads back out on the road for a pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference contests this weekend.
First, UMSL will face William Jewell on Thursday, January 26, at 7:30 p.m. in Liberty, Mo. Then on Saturday, January 28, the Tritons will head to Kirksville, Mo., to take on Truman State at 3 p.m.
UMSL snapped its two-game losing streak last week, defeating Quincy 80-69 last Thursday, led by Isaiah Fuller with 24 points. The Tritons then followed that up with one of their best performances of the season in a 89-62 win over Illinois-Springfield last Saturday. Victor Nwagbaraocha led the way that day, with 21 points against the Prairie Stars.
The Tritons continue to rank as one of the top scoring teams in the GLVC, with their average of 78.5 points per game and are tied for second in the conference in scoring defense with UIS, allowing just 67 points per contest.
UMSL also leads the league in field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage and steals, and is second in assists.
Bowen Sandquist is one of the top three-point shooters in Division II this season. The graduate transfer from Midland University has connected on 52 percent of his attempts from long range and has made 66 total three-pointers this season — both ranking second in the country.
About William Jewell – The Cardinals enter Thursday’s contest with a record of 10-9, 7-4 GLVC after going 1-1 last weekend. They dropped a 72-60 contest at Drury last Thursday in Springfield but rebounded on Saturday with an 85-69 win at home over Southwest Baptist.
WJC is averaging 70.5 points per game while giving up 67.6 points per contest. It is shooting 43 percent from the field including 37 percent from three and 70 percent at the foul line. It is outrebounding its opponents by nearly five rebounds per game.
Jordan Jermain leads the Cardinals in scoring with nearly 16 points per game and is joined in double figures by Mason Alexander and Kobe McKinley with 11.9 and 10.9 points per outing respectively.
Heri Tshiyoyo leads the team and the league in rebounding with 9.5 rebounds per contest. Alexander has handed out a team best 67 assists while Jermain leads the team with 25 steals.
About Truman State – The Bulldogs enter Thursday’s game against Maryville with a record of 9-10, 4-7 in the GLVC and have won three straight. Last week they traveled to Rolla and beat Missouri S&T 89-80 last Thursday and then went to Springfield and handed Drury a 79-63 defeat.
Elijah Hazekamp averaged 24 points per game in the road tilts at S&T and Drury. He knocked down 15 three-pointers and shot 56 percent from beyond the arc while also averaging 8.3 rebounds and snatched six steals to earn the GLVC’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honor.
Hazekamp is averaging 15.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per contest to lead Truman. He’s joined in double figures in scoring by Hunter Strait with 11.6 points per outing. Xavier Hall has dished out 75 assists this season while Strait and Dylan Peeters lead the team in steals with 18 each.
Series History – UMSL leads the all-time series against William Jewell 19-7 and has won seven straight in the series. The Tritons beat the Cardinals twice last season defeating them 71-61 in Liberty on Jan. 29 and then again in the semifinals of the GLVC Tournament 59-53 in Edwardsville, Ill.
Saturday’s contest marks the 50th meeting all-time between UMSL and Truman with the Tritons holding a 27-22 lead in the series. Truman won two of the three meetings last season. The Bulldogs beat UMSL 72-71 in the first meeting of the season in Kirksville on Dec. 2, 2021 and 79-72 at the Mark Twain Building last January. The Tritons beat Truman 73-68 in the opening round of the Midwest Regional last March.
| 2022-23 UMSL Tritons Upcoming Men’s Basketball Schedule |
| Thu., January 26 — at William Jewell* — 7:30 pm |
| Sat., January 28 — at Truman State* — 3 pm |
| Thu., February 2 — vs. Southwest Baptist* — 7:30 pm |
| Sat., February 4 — vs. Rockhurst* — 3 pm |
| Thu., February 9 — at Missouri S&T* — 7:30 pm |
| Sat., February 11 — at Drury* — 3 pm |
| Thu., February 16 — at Maryville* — 7:30 pm |
| Thu., February 23 — vs. Indianapolis* — 7:30 pm |
| Sat., February 25 — vs. McKendree* — 3 pm |
| * – Denotes Great Lakes Valley Conference game |
| All UMSL home games will be played at the Mark Twain Building. |