ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis senior forward Brian Conklin registered a game-high 15 points in a 71-39 victory over Texas Southern Tuesday at Chaifetz Arena.
The win, SLU’s sixth in a row, improves the Billikens’ record to 12-1. Next up is a showdown against New Mexico at The Pit on New Year’s Eve. Tip off in Albuquerque is scheduled for 5 p.m. (CT).
Against Texas Southern (1-10), Conklin was 5-of-7 from the field and 5-of-7 from the free-throw line. He also registered four rebounds. Sophomore guard Mike McCall Jr. scored 10 points after hitting a pair of 3-pointers and converting all four chances from the charity stripe. Junior forward Cory Remekun had six points and a team-high five rebounds.
As a team, the Billikens shot 48 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range. The offensive game supported another stellar defensive effort. The Billikens yielded less than 50 points for the sixth time this season as the Tigers shot just 30 percent from the field, including a 26-percent shooting mark in the second half. Additionally, the Billikens held TSU without a field goal for more than 10 minutes in the second half.
SLU never trailed in the game. Baskets by Conklin, Kyle Cassity and Kwamain Mitchell helped the Billikens race out to a 6-0 advantage. TSU would later close the gap to three at 13-10 with 12 minutes remaining in the half, but SLU would go on a 17-0 run to take a commanding 28-10 lead with 6:07 left in the half. Seven different Billikens scored in the rally.
The Billikens, who led 41-19 at halftime, began the second half on an 11-2 spurt thanks in part to treys by Rob Loe and Cody Ellis. Another basket by Ellis at 11:19 gave SLU a 33-point advantage (56-23), and the Billiken lead would not fall under 30 points the rest of the way as SLU coasted to the victory.
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