Box Score
The Billikens trailed 7-5 after Harris-Stowe's Chad Haley scored on a tip-in, but the Billikens used a 17-3 run to take command. Freshman Ruben Cotto ignited the spurt and pulled SLU even with a layup. Senior Tommie Liddell III sank one of two free throws to put the Bills up 8-7.
Brian Conklin sandwiched two baskets around a Femi John jumper for a 14-9 Saint Louis margin. Kyle Cassity hit two free throws, Brett Thompson scored on a layup and Kwamain Mitchell made a layup to give the Bills their first double-digit lead, 20-10, at the 9:25 mark. Two Cassity free throws completed the outburst.
Brian Conklin (SLU Photo) |
Brandon Davis nailed a 3-pointer to bring the Hornets back to within single digits at 22-13. But Willie Reed's dunk on the Billikens' next possession sparked an 8-0 run that gave SLU a 30-13 cushion with 5:57 to play. Davis hit another trey to make it 30-16, but that was as close as Harris-Stowe would get the rest of the half as the Billikens cruised to a 43-25 halftime advantage. SLU hit 18 of its last 30 shots in the half.
Thompson scored on the first possession of the second half to built a 20-point advantage. After a Harris-Stowe layup, a trey by Cotton started a 14-2 run. Conklin completed a three-point play, and Liddell added an inside bucket. Reed scored the last seven points of the run as the Billikens built a 62-29 lead with 13:06 left in the game. The Billikens slowly pulled away in the second half for the final margin.
Reed led the Billikens with 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while Conklin and Cotto both finished with 11 points apiece. Liddell, Cassity and Thompson all finished with 10 points. Liddell completed a double-double with a game-high 11 rebounds, and John hauled down 10 boards. Brandon Davis led Harris-Stowe with 17 points but was forced into a 6-of-21 shooting night. The Billikens forced the Hornets into 22 turnovers and held them to 26.6 percent shooting on the evening.
The Billikens begin the regular season on Friday, Nov. 14, when the host the University of Missouri-St. Louis in a 7 p.m. game at Chaifetz Arena.