Missouri S&T fell behind 11-0 to start Thursday's game against Rockhurst at Billy Key Court -- and that 11-point difference turned out to be the final margin as the Hawks knocked off the Miners 80-69 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference opener for both teams.

The Miners went without a point for the first four-plus minutes of the game until Taurance Townsel (Houston, Texas/) scored, a basket that started a 7-0 run for S&T. But after that run cut the margin to four, the Miners allowed a three-pointer on the next trip down the floor by Jake Meyer and never got within seven again until the final minutes of the contest.

S&T trailed 42-32 at halftime despite shooting 54.2 percent in the first half. However, it was second chance opportunities and turnovers that put the Miners in the hole, as Rockhurst forced 10 turnovers and had 13 offensive rebounds in the first 20 minutes.

Those matters led to 13 points off the mistakes and 11 second chance points for the Hawks.

Rockhurst extended its lead to as much as 18 in the second half before the Miners started whittling away at the deficit. Aaron Redecker's put-back with 5:02 cut the lead into single digits at 68-60, then two free throws by Marquis Jones (St. Louis, Mo./Cardinal Ritter) a minute later got the margin to six.

S&T got the deficit down to six two more times, the last at 75-69 with 1:24 to play, but the Miners were unable to score after that as the Hawks wrapped up the win at the free throw line where they were 28-of-33 on the night.

Four Miners finished in double figures, with Townsel leading the way with a double-double as he posted 13 points and 10 rebounds. Justin Taylor (Webster Groves, Mo./Webster Groves) and #A.J. Mandani# scored 12 points apiece and  Jones added 10. S&T outrebounded the Hawks 39-38 and blocked seven shots as it held Rockhurst (3-3, 1-0 GLVC) to 39 percent shooting from the floor.

Rockhurst's Aaron Hill, the second-leading scorer in the GLVC, led all scorers with 23 points. Hill, who entered the contest leading the league in three-point field goals, missed all three of his long-range attempts and was just three-of-12 from the floor, but made 17-of-18 at the free throw line.