THIS WEEK: Off to its best start in school history after seven games (6-1), the Maryville men’s basketball team opens Great Lakes Valley Conference play at intra-city rival University of Missouri-St. Louis Wednesday, Dec. 5, in a 7:30 p.m. game. The Saints are back home Saturday, Dec. 8, for a 3 p.m. game versus Robert Morris-Springfield.

ABOUT MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS: The Tritons have begun the season 5-1 and have won two straight. UMSL has five players averaging double figures. Joshua McCoy leads the way with 17.8 ppg with 5.7 rpg. He has made 14 3-pointers along with 23 assists and 10 steals. Darian Cartharn adds 14.2 ppg, while Charlie Woods contributed 12.2 ppg and a team-high 6.2 rpg. UMSL leads the league in free-throw percentage (81.4 percent) and 3-pointers made (8.83 per game).
 
ABOUT ROBERT MORRIS-SPRINGFIELD: The Eagles are 1-3 and have lost two straight since defeating Illinois Institute of Technology 96-61.

MORE ON MARYVILLE: The Saints are off to the best start in school history at 6-1 and have won three straight games. Asa Toney leads the team with 13.9 ppg and 35 assists. Armon Provo is second on the squad with a 13.7 scoring average and adds 4.3 rpg. Gerald Shaw chips in 11.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg. Head coach Kevin Carroll is in his third year at Maryville and has compiled a 26-34 overall record.
 
FRESH FACES: The Saints have bolstered their roster with six new players, including three freshmen, to the squad this season. Also rejoining the team is Darrin Young Jr. who missed the 2011-12 season due to a knee injury.
 
LAST WEEK
The Saints shot a school-record 72.7 percent from the field and 71.4 percent from 3-point range in an 85-67 win over Lincoln. Armon Provo led the Saints with 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Against Trevecca Nazarene, Trae Pemberton recorded career highs with 18 points and nine rebounds in a 70-57 win.
 
TUNE IN
To watch Saints home games on-line featuring new Voice of the Saints Jim Powers, log on to www.maryvillesaints.com/showcase. Cost to view a single game is $6.95, $10.95 per month, with an annual option to watch all Saints home events for $89.95. In addition, audio will be available for selected road games.
 
BE SOCIABLE
Follow Maryville Saints on Twitter @MaryvilleSaints and use the hashtag #SaintsNation for all items on Twitter associated with Maryville. Be sure to “like” the Maryville athletics Facebook page at www.facebook.com/maryvillesaints.
 
LAST SEASON: The Saints nearly doubled their win total from the previous year and posted a 13-14 overall record, 6-12 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Maryville qualified for the GLVC Tournament before falling to eventual champion Southern Indiana. Last year, the Saints
averaged 62.7 ppg on 47.2 percent shooting, 36.8 percent from 3-point range, 69.2 percent from the free-throw line. MU gave up 63.1 ppg and held its opponents to 43.1 percent shooting from the field.

LOOKING AHEAD: After taking a short break for final exams, the Saints play three games in five days starting Saturday, Dec. 15, when Lindenwood comes to Moloney Arena for a 3 p.m. game. The Saints host Missouri Baptist Monday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m., and play a rematch at Lincoln Wednesday, Dec. 19.