UMSL’s Janeir Harris hit the game-winning shot in the Tritons’ overtime win over West Texas A&M. (Photo courtesy: UMSL Athletics)

Team	1	2	OT	Total
#7 UMSL (10-0)	32	43	8	83
#24 W. Texas A&M (6-3)	43	32	6	81

Cedric Williams
Senior Editor

LAS VEGAS, NV — The No. 7-ranked University of Missouri-St. Louis men’s basketball team rallied from a 17-point first half deficit, and a four-point overtime deficit, to defeat No. 24-ranked West Texas A&M, 83-81, in the first game of the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic.

The victory kept the Tritons unbeaten, with a 10-0 record. That mark extends UMSL’s all-time best start to a season, with 10 straight wins, while West Texas A&M, which already has wins over two ranked opponents this season, fell to 6-3.

When the game began, it looked like the Buffaloes might cruise to their third win over a ranked opponent, as they jumped out to a 17-7 lead early, then extended it to 37-23 with three minutes to go in the first half. WTAMU led 43-32 at the half.

But UMSL opened the second half with a massive charge, as the Tritons outscored the Buffaloes 18-5 in the first eight minutes to take their first lead since the first minutes of the game.

WTAMU answered with a 14-5 run of its own to re-take the lead heading into the under-8 minute media timeout.

That’s when the very intense battle somehow got even more intense. UMSL began by going on a quick 7-1 run to cut its deficit to 62-61 with 6:19 left.

The teams then traded baskets on each of their next several possessions, which produced five ties and six lead changes in the final five minutes of regulation. The game was tied heading into the final minute and both teams hit a pair of free throws to send the game into overtime.

Things looked bleak initially for the Tritons, as two of their top players — point guard Isaiah Fuller and power forward Mayson Quartlebaum — fouled out and WTAMU capitalized by taking a quick four-point lead. But as they had done all day, the Tritons rallied.

First, Victor Nwagbaraocha hit a jumper to make the score 79-77. Then after WTAMU hit two free throws to go back up 81-77, Bowen Sandquist banged home a clutch three-pointer to pull UMSL within one with a minute and a half to go.

WTAMU had two chances to extend its lead on its next possession, but the Triton defense forced two misses and grabbed the rebound, so it could push upcourt and possibly take the lead. And UMSL did that, thanks to a made layup while being fouled by junior guard Janeir Harris, who had entered the game when Fuller fouled out.

Harris’ bucket gave the Tritons an 82-81 lead, which he extended by making the and-1 free throw with 12 seconds to go. WTAMU had three chances to tie the score on its last possession. But the Buffaloes missed the initial shot, then failed on two tip-in chances, as the clock ran out to give UMSL the win.

Nwagbaraocha finished with a team-high 27 points to lead the Tritons. Fuller had 17 points and three steals, and Sandquist added 11 points, including three three-pointers on a night in which UMSL made six-of-13 threes.

Harris’ game-winning three-point play gave him eight points on the night, which matched him with teammate Matt Enright, who had eight points and seven assists.

The Tritons will look to extend their winning streak even further when they play Rollins University on Day 2 of the Las Vegas Hoops Classic, Monday afternoon at 2:15 p.m.

The holiday break will come after that, with UMSL not getting back on the court until December 31, when it will host Wisconsin-Parkside, in a nonconference matchup at the Mark Twain Building back in St. Louis.

#7 UMSL 83

##	Player	GS	MIN	FG	3PT	FT	ORB-DRB	REB	PF	A	TO	BLK	STL	PTS
32	Victor Nwagbaraocha	*	35	12-17	1-3	2-2	1-3	4	5	0	2	1	1	27
11	Isaiah Fuller	*	31	5-8	0-0	7-8	0-2	2	5	2	8	0	3	17
22	Bowen Sandquist	*	42	4-7	3-5	0-0	0-4	4	2	1	0	0	2	11
15	Mayson Quartlebaum	*	19	3-5	1-2	2-2	1-2	3	4	0	2	0	0	9
03	Matt Enright	*	33	2-5	0-0	1-2	0-2	2	2	7	4	0	3	5
10	Janeir Harris		13	3-5	1-1	1-1	1-0	1	0	1	1	1	1	8
05	Trever Moore		28	0-1	0-0	4-4	1-4	5	4	1	1	0	2	4
04	Donovan Vickers		19	0-2	0-2	2-2	0-2	2	3	1	3	0	0	2
12	Dylan West		5	0-0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0
TM	TEAM		0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0-3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Totals	–	225	29-50	6-13	19-21	4-22	26	26	13	22	2	12	83

#24 West Texas A&M 81

##	Player	GS	MIN	FG	3PT	FT	ORB-DRB	REB	PF	A	TO	BLK	STL	PTS
04	Julius Brown	*	40	9-13	4-6	8-8	1-3	4	1	1	1	0	1	30
12	Damion Thornton	*	34	3-7	0-0	9-13	0-2	2	5	4	6	0	5	15
14	Zach Toussaint	*	36	1-7	1-6	4-4	0-0	0	1	0	1	0	0	7
05	Ryland Holt	*	10	1-6	0-2	0-0	0-1	1	2	0	2	1	0	2
33	Addison Wallace	*	24	0-1	0-0	1-2	3-3	6	2	3	3	0	1	1
35	Larry Wise		36	9-20	4-8	4-4	2-5	7	2	2	3	0	1	26
02	Ahamed Mohammed		19	0-4	0-2	0-0	4-2	6	3	0	1	0	1	0
24	Cameron Bell		19	0-0	0-0	0-0	1-0	1	3	0	0	0	0	0
03	Brock Mishak		4	0-0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
01	Jesse Iweze		2	0-0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
22	Journee Phillips		1	0-0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
TM	TEAM		0	0-0	0-0	0-0	4-1	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Totals	–	225	23-58	9-24	26-31	15-17	32	20	11	17	1	9	81

2022 UMSL Tritons Upcoming Men’s Basketball Schedule

Mon., December 19 — vs. Rollins in Las Vegas — 2:15 pm

Sat., December 31 — vs. Wisconsin-Parkside — 2 pm

Thu., January 5 — at Rockhurst* — 7:30 pm

Sat., January 7 — vs. Maryville* — 3 pm

Thu., January 12 — at McKendree* — 7:30 pm

Sat., January 14 — at Indianapolis* — 3 pm

Mon., January 16 — at Lewis* — 7:30 pm

Thu., January 19 — vs. Quincy* — 7:30 pm

Sat., January 21 — vs. Illinois-Springfield* — 3 pm

* – Denotes Great Lakes Valley Conference game

All UMSL home games will be played at the Mark Twain Building.