In a tight game that saw 15 lead changes throughout and neither team owning larger than a seven-point lead, Missouri-St. Louis held off Grand Valley State in a 56-51 final score in the GLVC-GLIAC Challenge on Saturday night (Nov. 13). Playing on its home floor on the second night of the tournament, the Tritons used a 9-4 run after a 47-47 tie score to close out the game in the final four-plus minutes.
 
It was the second night of the cross-conference challenge in St. Louis, Mo., with UMSL playing the host in year three of the tournament. Missouri-St. Louis evens its record at 1-1 with the victory, while GVSU drops to 0-2 on the season.
 
The Lakers (35.7 percent) shot better than UMSL (28.8 percent) from the field, but the deciding factors were long range and free throw shooting. Missouri-St. Louis held an 8-2 edge in made three-pointers and led GVSU in free throw makes, 18-9. The Tritons attempted 27 free throws to Grand Valley State's 15 tries.
 
Despite being outrebounded 42-38, the Lakers were led by senior forward Trevin Alexander and his game-high 13 rebounds. Alexander added nine points, two assists, and a pair of blocked shots in 32 minutes on the floor.
 
Sophomore center Justin Greason provided a career-high 13 points, as the big man went 5-of-9 from the field. He also tallied six rebounds, two rejections, and a steal. Senior guard Juwan Starks was the third Laker to reach double-digits, as he notched 10 points in 21 minutes off the bench.
 
GVSU scored the first four points of the game on a Luke Ryskamp jumper and a layup from Greason. A layup and a three-pointer from Alexander put the Lakers in front 13-12 at the 7:39 mark of the opening half. Minutes later, Greason tipped in a missed shot and sophomore Alec Marty knocked down a jumper to give GVSU a 22-21 lead with 2:25 to play.
 
Missouri-St. Louis would score the final four points of the half and take a 25-22 advantage into the intermission. Both teams struggled from the field in the opening 20 minutes, as the Tritons led despite 28.6 percent shooting. The Lakers connected on 32.1 percent of their attempts in the first frame.
 
With 16:36 to play in the game, UMSL moved ahead 34-27 - the biggest lead of the game by either team. Grand Valley State tied the game at 35-35 on a Greason layup more than four minutes later and took its first lead of the half on a layup from junior Chris Dorsey at the 11:24 mark.
 
A jumper from junior Drake Baar with 8:52 remaining gave GVSU a 44-43 cushion, which would be the team's last lead of the night. The score was tied at 47-47 after junior Myles Miller split a pair of freebies, but Missouri-St. Louis would finish the game on a 9-4 run, with seven of those points coming from the free throw line.
 
The Tritons made and attempted more free throws in the second half alone (13-19) than GVSU did in the entire game (9-15). Grand Valley State did own a decisive 26-11 edge in the paint and was on top 21-16 in bench points. UMSL pulled down 14 offensive rebounds - the Lakers had 11 - but GVSU held an 8-4 advantage in second chance points.
 
Baar tallied six points and five rebounds, while Miller scored six points and handed out three assists. Ryskamp added six rebounds, while sophomore Zach West picked up a career-high four steals.
 
In total, the game was tied nine times and there 15 lead changes between the teams. Steven Davis led UMSL with 13 points and six rebounds, while Joseph English added 11 points, six assists, and five boards.
 
Grand Valley State returns to Allendale for its home opener on Wednesday (Nov. 16) against Great Lakes Christian at 7:00 p.m.