Bowen Sandquist scored a game-high 20 points in UMSL’s upset win over No. 20 Walsh on Friday. (Photo courtesy: UMSL Athletics)
| Game 1 | 1 | 2 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| UMSL (1-0) | 36 | 34 | 70 |
| Walsh (0-1) | 26 | 27 | 53 |
| Game 2 | 1 | 2 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiffin (0-2) | 26 | 28 | 54 |
| UMSL (2-0) | 31 | 36 | 67 |
Cedric Williams
Senior Editor
NORTH CANTON, OH — Coming off its best season in program history, where it advanced to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16, the University of Missouri-St. Louis opened up its 2022-23 season with a pair of wins on the road.
One of those wins, which came in the season opener, against the preseason No. 20-ranked team in the country and the host school for the weekend’s game, Walsh University. The game was played on Friday, and the Tritons won in dominating fashion, 70-53.
The second game was on Saturday, against Tiffin — another quality team from Ohio. But UMSL was able to outlast them, 67-54.
In the opener, UMSL led from start to finish, after beginning the game on a 12-3 run. Walsh outscored the Tritons 14-7, during the middle part of the half to get back within 19-17. Then after the teams traded baskets, the Cavaliers pulled within one point with just under four minutes left.
But UMSL closed the half on an 11-2 run to go into halftime with a 36-26 lead.
The second half was all Tritons, as they led by double-digits almost the entire time. Walsh scored the first basket of the half to pull within eight, but UMSL answered with a 12-4 run to go ahead 48-32, and never looked back.
Grad student senior guard Bowen Sandquist led the way with a game-high 20 points, including six made three-pointers, while fellow grad student teammate Victor Nwagbaraocha added 17 points, eight rebounds, and three steals.
The second game, against Tiffin, was similar to the first, as UMSL never trailed. This time though, the first half was close throughout, with Tritons leading, 31-26.
The second half began with the teams trading baskets. But then UMSL got hot midway through, and went on an 18-4 run midway through to go ahead, 54-33.
From that point on, Tiffin never got closer than 15 points, until it hit a three at the final buzzer to make the final score 67-54.
The leading scorers for UMSL this time, were senior guard Isaiah Fuller, who had 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists, and junior forward Dylan West, who came off the bench to add 15 points and 10 rebounds.
After earning a pair of terrific wins this weekend, the Tritons will be back home for six of its next seven games, beginning with the home opener on Thursday, November 17, when UMSL will host East-West University at the Mark Twain Building.
The Tritons will follow that up by hosting one of its favorite events of the season, the St. Louis Union Station UMSL Thanksgiving Classic, a four-game, four-team event, played at the Mark Twain Building.
UMSL will face Grand Valley State on Tuesday, November 22, and Michigan Tech, on Wednesday, November 23. Those same two teams will also play UMSL’s crosstown rival, Maryville University, in opposite order.
After a road game to close out November, the Tritons will be back home, with for three straight against Drury (December 1), Missouri S&T (December 3), and Lewis (December 10).
| 2022 UMSL Tritons Upcoming Men’s Basketball Schedule |
| Thu., November 17 — vs. East-West — 6 pm |
| Tue., November 22 — vs. Grand Valley State — 3:15 pm |
| Wed., November 23 — vs. Michigan Tech — 3:15 pm |
| Mon., November 28 — at Southwest Baptist* — 7:30 pm |
| Thu., December 1 — vs. Drury* — 7:30 pm |
| Sat., December 3 — vs. Missouri S&T* — 3 pm |
| Sat., December 10 — vs. Lewis* — 3 pm |
| * – Denotes Great Lakes Valley Conference game |
| All UMSL home games will be played at the Mark Twain Building |