BOX SCORE
LAKELAND, Fla. - A season-high 21 turnovers proved costly as the University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team lost an 89-83 decision to Saint Joseph's College Monday night in the opening round game of the Holiday Inn-South/Ledger Tournament hosted by Florida Southern.
The Pumas (6-3) took advantage of the Tritons miscues, scoring 24 points on the UMSL errors.
The Tritons, which fall to 7-3, will face either No. 2 ranked Florida Southern or Lake Erie in the consolation game tomorrow at 5:15 p.m. (EST).
Despite the loss, UMSL shot 49.1 percent from the field to Saint Joseph's 44.1 percent and held a 46-33 rebounding advantage. The Tritons also connected on 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from three-point range.
Sophomore Beaumont Beasley scored a game-high 24 points to go with seven assists, but was just 9-of-22 from the field and committed 11 turnovers. Senior Adam Kaatman finished with 18 points, 13 of which came in the first half, connecting on all five field goals, including all four three-pointers.
Junior Ryan Lawrence and sophomore Zach Redel each tallied a double-double. Lawrence was a force on the boards, hauling down a career-high 20 caroms to go with 12 points, while Redel added 10 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. Lawrence also finished with eight assists, two shy of notching the illustrious triple-double.
The Tritons committed 14 turnovers in the first half, allowing Saint Joseph's to take a 42-32 lead into halftime.
UMSL scored seven quick points to open the second half to ignite a 15-5 run that pulled UMSL within 47-46 on an Eddie White jumper with 16:12 to play. However, Saint Joseph's responded with seven unanswered points and would later take a 59-49 lead at the 14:15 mark.
The Tritons then reeled off nine unanswered points and pulled within 59-58 on a Sam Buxton free throw with 10:36 on the clock. Seconds later, Kaatman connected on his fourth three-pointer of the game at the 10:22 mark to tie the game at 61-61. Lawrence gave UMSL its first lead of the game with 9:30 remaining on a pair of free throws.
With the score tied at 67-67, the Pumas scored four straight for a 71-67 lead they would not relinquish. A layup by Lawrence with 4:13 on the clock made the game 75-72 and then a pair of free throws by freshman Nicolai Oestbye brought UMSL within 75-74 with 3:37 to play, but the Pumas' Austin Peebles drained a three-pointer to push the lead back to four at 78-74. Beasley made it 80-77 with the second of two free throw attempts at the two minute mark, but five straight points by Saint Joseph's and 4-of-6 shooting at the free throw line in the final 51 seconds sealed the game for the Pumas.
TRITON TIDBITS: UMSL and Saint Joseph's are both members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, but tonight's game was a non-conference contest. The two will meet in league play in St. Louis on Jan. 21... Saint Joseph's now leads the series 15-7... Since opening the season 6-0, UMSL has lost three of its last four games... Beaumont Beasley now has six 20-plus scoring games this season.