The No. 23 Saint Louis Billikens are set to defend their position at the top of the Atlantic 10 Conference as they head to Dayton on Tuesday. With an impressive record of 25-2 and 13-1 within the conference, the Billikens recently secured a decisive 88-75 victory over second-place VCU. Reserve guard Kellen Thames emerged as the star of the night, contributing 16 points, while Robbie Avila, Ishan Sharma, and Amari McCottry each added 13 points, and Quentin Jones rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points.
The game was not without its complications; Saint Louis found themselves down 22-8 in the first half but staged a remarkable comeback by outscoring VCU 55-33 in the second half, even extending their lead to 19 points at one point. The intensity of the game peaked towards the end when multiple players from both teams were ejected following a shoving incident, prompting the Atlantic 10 to impose fines and reprimands.
Saint Louis aims to capitalize on this momentum after suffering a setback against Rhode Island, where their 18-game winning streak was halted in a narrow 81-76 loss. Despite that defeat, the Billikens maintain a solid position in the NCAA NET rankings at No. 22, firmly nestled within the NCAA Tournament concerns.
Heading into the matchup against Dayton, clarity on their slow starts has emerged as a focal point for the Billikens during practice. Coach Josh Schertz noted the team’s previous prowess at starting strong early in the season, expressing a commitment to reignite that momentum.
In their earlier encounter this season, Saint Louis secured a dominant 102-71 victory over the Flyers on January 30. Schertz offered high praise to both VCU and Dayton, emphasizing their competitive status within the conference and the Billikens’ desire to rise to their level.
Dayton, standing at 18-9 overall and 9-5 in the conference, comes off a hard-fought stretch, recently beating Duquesne 78-66 with Amael L’Etang leading the team with 17 points and 10 rebounds. After returning from a knee injury that sidelined him for four games, L’Etang has demonstrated his recovery and readiness to contribute significantly. The Flyers are aiming to improve their standing, currently ranked 84th in the NET, and are aware that they may need to secure the Atlantic 10 tournament title to reach the NCAA Tournament.
As both teams approach this critical matchup, the competitive spirit promises an exciting game, showcasing the high stakes involved for both the Billikens and the Flyers as they each vie for conference supremacy.