ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Jan. 15, 2009)--The Tritons of Missouri-St. Louis ended the Bellarmine University men's basketball team's perfect season and 14-game winning streak by pulling a 70-69 upset over the No. 2-ranked Knights this evening in a Great Lakes Valley Conference matchup at Mark Twain Center on the UMSL campus.
The Tritons' Alex Jackson hit the game winner with just 2.8 seconds remaining, and after a timeout, Bellarmine's lengthy in-bounds pass was intercepted to seal the win for UMSL.
"We lost to a very dangerous team, and we were on the road," said Coach Scott Davenport. "I've been preaching for months now how hard it is on the road."
The Knights held the lead for the majority of the game, getting out to a 12-point lead during the first half, and took a 38-28 lead into halftime.
The Tritons remained hard-nosed, however, and took their first lead with 6:41 remaining in the game.
Bellarmine regained the lead on a 3-pointer by freshman Braydon Hobbs at the 2:52 mark, and after senior Chartrael Hall calmly drained two free throws with just 26 seconds left to give the Knights a 69-66 lead, it appeared as if Bellarmine might escape with the win.
However, UMSL's Tim Green matched Hall's free throws nine seconds later to pull the Tritons within one. The Tritons then fouled junior Kevin Allen on the inbounds play, but the Knights' best free throw shooter was unable to convert from the charity stripe, setting up Jackson's heroics for the Tritons.
"It was disappointing in the fact that at halftime we talked about the importance of limiting their opportunities by rebounding on the defensive end, and on their first possession of the second half they get two offensive rebounds in the first 40 seconds," Davenport said. "That sort of set the tone for the second half," he added.
On the night, UMSL outrebounded Bellarmine 33-22 and held a 12-4 advantage on the offensive glass.
The Knights inside game was hampered by foul trouble and an injury to junior forward Andrew Patterson, who turned an ankle just three minutes into the game and did not return to action. His injury will be re-evaluated tomorrow. Senior center Oladapo Fagbenle was limited to just 13 minutes of action, as he was plagued with foul trouble.
The Knights had three players in double figures, led by Hall with 20. Hobbs and Hall led the team with five rebounds apiece, and Hobbs was the assist leader with six.
Tim Green had the biggest night for the Tritons, racking up 27 points and hauling in seven rebounds.
Bellarmine falls to 14-1, 5-1 GLVC, while UMSL improves to 11-6, 3-4.
Bellarmine continues its road trip with a 3 p.m. (Central Time) tip against GLVC West-leading Rockhurst University on Saturday. Bellarmine returns to Knights Hall on Thursday, Jan. 22, when they host Drury University at 8 p.m.