KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A strong effort on the defensive end allowed Missouri S&T to snap a five-game losing streak Saturday afternoon, as the Miners finished strong to upend Rockhurst 73-62 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

After seeing every opponent during the skid shoot at least 50 percent from the floor against them, the Miners held Rockhurst to 38.6 percent shooting and to 33.3 percent in the second half as they improved to 8-10 overall and 4-5 in the GLVC.

S&T led for the entire first half, taking a 12-point lead with six minutes remaining in the first half following a three-pointer by Zach Ellis (St. Louis, Mo./Whitfield School).  But after a slow start, the Hawks (9-8, 4-5 GLVC) warmed up as the half progressed and got the margin down to four before the period ended at 38-34.

Rockhurst then scored the first seven points of the second half and took its first lead in the process when Dominique Washington knocked down a three-pointer.  The Hawks would maintain the advantage until Desmond Buerge (Carthage, Mo./Carthage)'s three-pointer with 11:11 on the clock tied the score at 49.

Adam Fatkin's basket put the Hawks back in the lead at 52-51 with 9:57 to play, but S&T went on a 5-0 spurt to go back in the lead – moving back in front on Rokas Paulauskas (Talsiai, Lithuania/Hamilton Heights Acad.)' lay-in at the 7:47 mark – and outscored Rockhurst 11-2 over a span of 4:46 to take an eight-point lead following a free throw by Ellis.

Rockhurst closed to within four at 63-59 with 3:33 left, but B.J. McLaughlin (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) hit a jumper to push the margin to six, then moments later, Paulauskas got an offensive rebound and scored to give the Miners a seven-point lead.

The Miners iced the game at the free throw line, going six-of-six over the final 1:07 to keep the Hawks at bay.

Ellis led all scorers with 18 points, while McLaughlin finished with 17 and Buerge with 14.  S&T shot 50 percent from the field and outrebounded the Hawks 37-31, including a 22-16 advantage in the second half after the Hawks held an 11-1 edge at one point.

Josh Roberts led Rockhurst with 16 points and Washington added 15, but Malachi Nix, the Hawks' second-leading scorer on the year, was held to one made field goal in seven attempts.

The Miners open a four-game homestand Thursday when they host Truman State in a 7:30 p.m. contest at Billy Key Court.