ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Four remain. A spot in Sunday’s final is on the line. Pickin’ Splinters is court side with news, notes, updates and analysis. Grab a seat on the Pine and join in the discussion.
#2St. Louis and #3 Xavier decide Sunday’s final participant.
Xavier leads the all-time series 28-14, including a 7-5 advantage in A-10 play. The two teams played the majority of their games in the 1980s when both were members of the Metro Conference/Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC). The Billikens ended Xavier’s seven-game series winning streak with a 79-68 victory at Cintas Center on Jan. 25. SLU swept the regular-season contests with a 70-59 victory at Chaifetz Arena Feb. 28.
SAINT LOUIS BILLIKENS
Record: 25-6 (12-4 A-10)
Neutral Court Record: 4-0
Last Game: W, 78-71 (La Salle)
Current Streak: Won 3
Last Five: 4-1
Head Coach: Rick Majerus
Majerus’ Record at SLU: 94-67 (5th yr.)
Majerus’ Career Record: 516-214 (25th yr.)
Leading Scorer: Brian Conklin (13.9 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Dwayne Evans (7.2 rpg)
Assists Leader: Kwamain Mitchell (113/3.6 apg)
Blocks Leader: Cory Remekun (19/0.6 bpg)
Steals Leader: Kwamain Mitchell (41/1.3 spg)
XAVIER MUSKETEERS
Record: 20-11 (9-7 A-10)
Neutral Court Record: 2-1
Last Game: W, 70-69 (Dayton)
Current Streak: Won 2
Last Five: 3-2
Head Coach: Chris Mack
Mack’s Record at XAV: 70-28 (3rd yr.)
Macks Career Record: Same
Leading Scorer: Tu Holloway (16.9 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Kenny Frease (6.3 rpg)
Assists Leader: Tu Holloway (153/4.9 apg)
Blocks Leader: Kenny Frease (34/1.1 bpg)
Steals Leader: Tu Holloway (47/1.5 spg)
Xavier starting lineup:
Tu Holloway, Mark Lyons, Kenny Frease, Dez Wells and Andre Walker
St. Louis starting lineup:
Kwamain Mitchell, Mike McCall Jr., Dwayne Evans, Brian Conklin, and Rob Loe
St. Louis has come out shooting, hit its first 3 threes. But they haven’t hit anything inside the arc.
Xavier on the other hand hasn’t shot a 3 and is 3 for 5 inside the arc.
St. Louis leads 9-8 with 15:58 left in the first half.
Cody Ellis will shoot 3 free throws after being fouled in the act.
Xavier has not scored in a little over 5 minutes.
Good news for them? They are only losing by 5, 13-8.
Media Timeout.
Both teams are having problems offensively. Combined shooting of about 35% right now.
Billikens have missed their last 5 three pointers after hitting their first 3.
15-12 St. Louis
Xavier currently has a 17-12 rebound advantage and has a 14-8 advantage in the paint.
Xavier now leads 23-21.
St. Louis is now 0 for 6 since hitting its first 3-of-4 trifectas.
Billikens have 6 turnovers, 5 assists and 4 steals as a team.
After SLU was up 15-8 right around the 12:00 minute mark, it has been all Xavier since. Musketeers have outscored the Billikens 21-8 since.
Halftime. Xavier leads 29-23.
Musketeers have established their half-court offense. 18 points in the paint and most of that has come off designed sets. Frease and Walker have combined for 11 with Jeff Robinson and Travis Taylor adding two apiece.
Interesting how both UMass and SLU started 3-of-4 behind the arc and then ending up trailing at half.
St. Louis 10 for 29 from the field and 4 for 15 from behind the three point line.
Tu Holloway has a bounce in his step and has hit a pair of 3s.
15:01 to play and Xavier leads 41-31.
You know you are near Philadelphia when on-court fan participants get booed.
Holloway has found his rhythm going to his left off the dribble and pulling up.
Dwayne Evans with the finish and 1 !!
11:53 to play and Evans have the chance to pull the Billikens within 5, 43-38.
This run from SLU has been with Kenny Frease on the bench.
After 5 points from Mark Lyons, the Billikens have countered with 5 of their own (3 from Cody Ellis and 2 from Jordair Jett.
Timeout Xavier, 48-43 Xavier leads.
This game has the exact same feel as the Bonnies/UMass game.
7:00 remain and we have timeout.
Xavier leads 52-49.
Kwamain Mitchell had 6 points at the under 16 timeout of the first half. Since he has just 2 points. He has been 0 for 9 from the field.
Mitchell came into the game averaging 12.1 pts. per game.
Billikens are just 2 for 16 from three pt line after hitting 3 of their first 4.
This half, Xavier is 12 for 17 from the field.
We have a St. Louis timeout.
Xavier will go to the line and Kenny Frease is shooting a 1 and 1 with 29.8 seconds left.
Xavier leads 65-62.
Frease hits both – 67-62 Xavier
It is a final.
Xavier wins 71-64 and moves on to the A-10 Tournament Championship.
Xavier will face St. Bonaventure tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 pm.
Adding to my all-name team: Humpty Hitchens, Quincy Acy and Jordair Jett