UMSL Men's Basketball Wins Opens Tappmeyer Era With 82-71 Win

SPRINGFIELD, ILL., November 12, 2010 - The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team opened the Steve Tappmeyer era with an 82-71 victory Friday night over Northwood in its first game of the GLVC/GLIAC Challenge Friday night, giving the first-year head coach a successful debut on the Tritons' sidelines.

Junior Gerald Ford led the Tritons with 25 points on 8-of-16 shooting, including 6-of-9 from three-point range. Senior Ryan Lawrence added 15 points and seven rebounds, while junior Justin Hightower also finished with 15 points. Junior Zach Redel was the fourth UMSL player to finish in double figures, chipping in 11.

UMSL connected on 45.5 percent from the field, including 50 percent from three-point range, while Northwood was 42.4 percent from the floor. The Tritons also owned a 40-32 rebounding advantage.

After Ford sunk one of his three-pointers with 6:16 to play in the opening stanza that knotted the score at 23-23, UMSL outscored Northwood 16-7 to end the half, taking a 39-30 lead into halftime.

The Tritons then used a 7-2 lead to open the second half, extending its lead to 46-34 with on a Justyn Watkins basket before the Timberwovles fought back to within 54-52 with 10:16 to play, but another UMSL run put the game back in the Tritons' hands.

UMSL will face Lake Superior State tomorrow in a 1 p.m. contest.