PITTSBURGH – Saint Louis forward Dwayne Evans recorded a double-double with season highs of 20 points and 14 rebounds as the Billikens cruised to a 75-60 victory at Duquesne Saturday in SLU’s regular-season finale.
The victory improves the Billikens’ record to 24-6, 12-4 in the Atlantic 10 Conference. SLU heads to Atlantic City, N.J., next weekend for the A-10 Championship, where it will be the No. 2 seed. The Bills play an opponent to be determined on Friday, March 9, at 5:30 p.m. (CT) at Boardwalk Hall.
SLU head coach Rick Majerus did not coach in the Duquesne game as he was sent to a local hospital an hour-and-a-half before tip after taking the wrong medication. As a precaution, Majerus will stay in Pittsburgh overnight for observation and travel back to St. Louis on Sunday.
Evans’ 20 points was one off his career high. He was 9-of-14 from the field and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe. Evans had seven offensive boards, helping the Billikens post a 19-5 edge in second-chance points. It was Evans’ seventh double-double of the season and the 12th of his career.
Kwamain Mitchell pumped in 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting, which included a pair of 3-pointers. Rob Loe hit three treys en route to 11 points. Brian Conklin chipped in 11 points, and Cody Ellis added nine as the Billikens utilized a balanced scoring attack with five players scoring in double digits.
Saint Louis shot 52.7 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from 3-point range.
Duquesne (16-14, 7-9 A-10) was led in scoring by B.J. Monteiro’s 14 points.
The Billikens led wire-to-wire, the fifth time they have done so this season. SLU raced out to a quick 5-0 lead thanks to field goals by Loe and Conklin. Later, an 8-0 Billiken rally gave SLU a nine-point advantage at 19-10 with 8:56 remaining in the first half.
Treys by Mike McCall Jr. and Loe kept the Billiken advantage near double digits. As the final seconds were winding down in the half, Ellis drew a charge. On the ensuing Billiken possession, Mitchell buried a long trey as time expired to send the Billikens into the locker room with a 39-25 lead.
Saint Louis maintained a comfortable lead throughout the second half. The Billikens stretched the game open with an 11-0 run midway through the second session, punctuated by a pair of 3-pointers by Loe. A Mitchell trey with 4:13 remaining gave the Billikens a 20-point advantage, and the Billikens cruised to the 15-point victory.
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