Dec. 28, 2009

Box Score

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - UMKC hit 27 of 35 free throws Monday and defeated Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 63-54 at the Vadalabene Center.

SIUE, 2-11, made just 6 of 11 from the charity stripe. The Cougars outscored UMKC, 7-5, from the field and finished with the same number of three-pointers.

The Cougars opened the game with a 9-0 run and hit 10 of their first 16 shots for the game.

"I thought our guys were playing with great intensity. We were getting some great looks early," said SIUE Coach Lennox Forrester.

But SIUE was slowed by foul trouble. Eight different players for UMKC would get to the line as the Kangaroos hit 77 percent of their free throws.

SIUE held a 29-27 lead by halftime as Anthony Mitchell made a bucket and added a free throw with 42 seconds left.

The Cougars held as much as a five-point lead on Mark Yelovich's jumper with 17:03 to play. Yelovich netted 10 points despite spending most of the game in foul trouble. Aamir McCleary was SIUE's leading scorer with 11 followed by 10 from Denykco Bowles.

Jay Couisinard and Trey McKinney-Jones scored 14 each for UMKC. Couisinard was 9 of 13 from the line while McKinney-Jones was a perfect 4 for 4.

Forrester said missed opportunities hurt the Cougars. "I didn't think we finished around the basket," he said.

SIUE must now rebound to play Murray State Wednesday at the Vadalabene Center. Game time is 7 p.m.

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