University of Missouri-St. Louis’ Ryan Lawrence (DeSoto, Mo./DeSoto/Mineral Area CC) is the Great Lakes Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. DeSoto, a junior guard for the Tritons, guided UMSL to a pair of regional victories.

 

In UMSL’s 89-83 win over visiting Truman State on Tuesday, Lawrence notched a double-double with 19 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. He shot 60 percent from the field in the victory by knocking down six of ten attempts and added four assists. Lawrence was also 3-for-4 (.750) from behind the three-point line and 4-for-6 (.667) from the free throw line.

 

Lawrence returned on Saturday to post 20 points in UMSL’s 70-65 win at Upper Iowa. He was 7-for-9 (.778) from the field and 5-for-6 (.833) from the free throw line. Lawrence also pulled down six rebounds and had an assist and blocked shot in the win.

 

For the week, Lawrence averaged a double-double with 19.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. He shot 68.4 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from the three-point line. ‘

 

His efforts have helped the Tritons start the season with a 5-0 record, the best start in the program’s history. Lawrence is averaging 16 points and a team-best 6.2 rebounds per game on the year. He is shooting 65 percent from the field and 60 percent from the three-point line.

 

UMSL will open the GLVC schedule this week with road trips to Lewis and UW-Parkside.

 

Other top performers in the GLVC last week included Bellarmine’s Jeremy Kendle, Drury’s Alex Hall, Kentucky Wesleyan’s Desmond Stephens, Lewis’ Dennis Thomas, Missouri S&T’s Mike Malat, Northern Kentucky’s David Palmer, Rockhurst’s Aaron Hill, Southern Indiana’s Jamar Smith and UW-Parkside’s Grant Johnson.