Saints Shoot 52.8 Percent to Beat UIS 81-67

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The Maryville men's basketball team won its third straight contest with an 81-67 decision at Illinois Springfield Friday evening. The triumph is the first in Great Lakes Valley Conference play for the Saints who improve to 7-3 overall, 1-1 in the league. Maryville shot 52.8 percent from the field and had four players in double-figure scoring.

The Prairie Stars led 11-7 before the Saints scored 16 straight points. Jamel Johnson started the run with one free throw until Maryville drained three straight 3-pointers to surge ahead. Johnson drilled a jumper, and Trae Pemberton followed with a 3-pointer for a 13-11 advantage. The junior drained two more 3-pointers as the Saints built a 19-11 lead. Armon Provo sank two free throws, and a Myles Jerrett layup capped the outburst for a 23-11 lead with 8:25 left in the first half. UIS chipped away at the Maryville lead and closed to 27-22. Darrin Young Jr. hit one free throw, and after a Johnson layup, Young added his own layup for a double-digit lead. The Saints settled for a 41-27 lead at halftime.

The Prairie Stars score the first two points of the second half but Maryville answered with eight straight points. Provo drained back-to-back 3-pointers, and two Asa Toney free throws stretched the margin to 49-29. Maryville held its largest lead of the night at 57-36 with 14 minutes to play. UIS used a 14-1 run and slowly crept back into the game. The Saints edge was down to 58-50 midway through the second half until Jerrett and Johnson converted back-to-back scores and a 62-50 lead. Holding a 66-56 lead with six minutes to play, the Saints finally took control with seven straight points.

Provo led the way with 20 points, and he hit half of Maryville's eight 3-pointers on the night. Pemberton and Toney chipped in 13 points apiece. Jerrett contributed 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while Johnson had a team-high six rebounds. Jacob Williams led UIS (4-5, 0-1 GLVC) with 25 points and hit 8-of-12 shots from the field.

The Saints are back in action Sunday, Jan. 5, as they make the short trip to Lebanon, Ill., to face McKendree.

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