The Saint Louis Billikens (18-13, 11-7 A-10) fought their way to a 90-88 overtime victory against Duquesne (13-18, 8-10 A-10) Saturday night at Chaifetz Arena, closing out their regular season on a high note.
Game Breakdown:
The first half was a back-and-forth affair with 12 lead changes. Saint Louis went on a 9-0 run to take their largest lead at 27-19, but Duquesne countered to head into halftime up 40-38. The Dukes led for most of the second half, with SLU only pulling even at 63, 65, 67, and finally at 80 to force overtime.
Saint Louis trailed 80-74 after Tre Dinkins hit a jumper with just 41 seconds left in regulation. Swope then put on a show, nailing two triples within seven seconds to tie the game. Duquesne had a chance to win it, but their potential game-winning three was off the mark, sending SLU into its second overtime game of the season.
In the extra period, leads were traded. The Billikens found themselves down 85-84 after a three from Duquesne's Maximus Edwards, but Swope responded immediately with another clutch three-pointer to give SLU the edge. Avila’s deep shot extended the lead to 90-85 with just 36 seconds remaining, effectively closing the door on Duquesne's comeback hopes.
Key Performers:
Gibson Jimerson: Exploded for a career-high 35 points on 14-of-20 shooting, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Jimerson also pulled down eight rebounds, tying his season high.
Isaiah Swope: Delivered 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists, including two clutch three-pointers in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime.
Robbie Avila: Scored 22 points with seven rebounds and four assists, hitting a dagger three-pointer in overtime to seal the win.
Amari McCottry: Provided a spark off the bench with eight points and four rebounds.
@SLUMBB
The Billikens shot an impressive 59% from the field and 44% from three-point range, showcasing their offensive efficiency. Duquesne responded with a balanced attack, featuring five players in double digits, led by Tre Dinkins' 16 points and six rebounds.
SLU failed to cover the -5.5 spread and the total score went OVER the 138.5 line.
What’s Next:
With the win, the Billikens secured the No. 5 seed for the Atlantic 10 Championship, which tips off Wednesday, March 12, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Saint Louis earned a first-round bye and will face the winner of the first-round game between No. 12 Davidson and No. 13 Richmond on Thursday, March 13, at 1:00 p.m. CST, coverage on USA Network.
SLU will look to carry this momentum into the tournament as they aim to make a postseason run.