Box Score

UMSL boxscore in PDF

Asa Toney poured in 26 points to pace the Maryville men’s basketball team to a 74-65 victory over city rival Missouri-St. Louis in the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular-season finale at Moloney Arena. The win propelled the Saints to the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye for the Deaconess Hospital GLVC Tournament. Maryville will open the tourney Thursday, March 7, at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind.
 
The Saints were holding a 55-50 lead midway through the second half before embarking on a 10-2 run. Jamel Johnson scored inside to spark the outburst, and Toney followed with a drive and hoop. UMSL scored to cut the margin to 59-52, but Toney drained a 3-pointer and was fouled for a four-point trip. On Maryville’s next possession, Toney drove down the lane for another score in traffic and a 65-52 lead with 5:25 remaining.
 
The Tritons chipped away and closed the gap to 65-57 but Trae Pemberton knocked down two free throws to rebuild a double-digit lead. UMSL canned one free throw but Toney answered with a bucket down low. The Tritons edged back to 69-61 in the final minute, but the Saints sealed the victory with a dunk by Gerald Shaw and two free throws by Armon Provo to take a 12-point cushion.
 
Toney hit 10-of-16 shots from the field en route to his 26-point output. Shaw accounted for 14 points, while Provo added 11. Johnson contributed 10 points and led the team with seven rebounds and five assists. Joshua McCoy led UMSL (17-9, 10-8) with 19 points. The Saints shot 53.2 percent from the field and their defense held the Tritons to just 34 percent accuracy.
 
The Saints build on their school record win total and improve to 23-8 overall, 12-6 in the GLVC. Maryville will find out its opponent after first-round tournament action takes place Sunday.