INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 24 UIndy men's basketball team (14-2, 6-2 GLVC) knocked off No. 11 Missouri-St. Louis (14-2, 6-2 GLVC) on Saturday afternoon by a score of 77-70, marking the Hounds' first ranked win inside Nicoson Hall since Jan. 9, 2020.
 
The victory was also head coach Paul Corsaro's first against the Tritons and the team's first win against UMSL since Feb. 2019.
 
Jesse Bingham got back on track, recording 23 points, while Kendrick Tchoua finished with 19 points and nine boards.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Clinging to a 36-33 halftime advantage, Kendrick Tchoua immediately stretched the host's lead to seven just after the break following an assist from Josiah Tynes. However, a 3-pointer from UMSL's Donovan Vickers capped a 16-5 run after the under-12 media timeout to keep the visitors in the game.
 
The second half was a battle; the game itself featured eight ties and six lead changes. Bingham dropped 12 of his 23 points in the final 20 minutes, including a 3-ball with 10:47 left to give the Hounds the lead for good.
 
UIndy outscored UMSL by 10 down the stretch before the eventual 77-70 final. Tchoua was instrumental, playing 16+ minutes in the second half and recording 15 points and seven rebounds. The Silver Spring, Md., native put an exclamation point on the win, committing theft and dunking the Hounds' biggest lead to nine at the 3:32 mark.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Greyhounds held the Tritons to 41.5 percent shooting (22-for-53) on Saturday, compared to their 52.0 percent clip in their first 15 contests.
- Jakobie Robinson and Bruno Williams also finished in double figures, with the former recording seven of his 12 points in the second half.
- UIndy turned the ball over a miniscule seven times against the UMSL defense, marking a tie for the second-fewest in a game this season (at Christian Brothers on Dec. 6 and versus Missouri S&T on Jan. 12).
- Ten of the Tritons' 13 turnovers were recorded as steals, as three Hounds tallied a pair of swipes. Aaron Etherington finished with two steals himself in 10+ minutes, joining Robinson and Tchoua.
- Bingham shot 8-for-17 (47.1 percent) from the floor, including a 4-of-5 mark from 3-point range.
 
MORE NOTES
The Greyhounds upped their winning streak to eight … the Tritons were perfect from the charity stripe, sinking all 17 attempts … UIndy led for nearly 34 minutes on Saturday … the Hounds have attempted 88 free throws over their last three games, drilling 75.0 percent of them … Tchoua has now increased his nation's best field-goal percentage to 75.0 percent (84-for-112) ... Bingham is now just 13 points from joining the 1,000 club.

HOUND BYTES

?? Tchoua with another big game on Saturday & remains the most humble (dominant) big man we've seen ?? pic.twitter.com/5INLFQ472b

— UIndy Athletics (@UIndyAthletics) January 14, 2023

 UP NEXT
UIndy hosts Maryville on Monday, Jan. 16 for a MLK Day celebration. Tip with the Saints is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from Nicoson Hall.
 
The Hounds earned a 75-58 win over the Saints back on Dec. 11 in St. Louis.