ST. LOUIS – Dwayne Evans scored a game-high 17 points, and Saint Louis shot a season-high 55.6 percent from the field in a 62-49 victory over Valparaiso Sunday afternoon at Chaifetz Arena.
Evans was 5-of-6 from the floor and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. He added five rebounds, including a game-high three on the offensive glass.
Jordair Jett tied his season high with 14 points (5-of-7 FG), collected a team-high and season-high six rebounds, and added game highs of seven assists and three steals.
Mike McCall Jr. tallied 10 points, while Cody Ellis chipped in nine points and five rebounds for the Billikens, who improved to 4-3. Cory Remekun recorded a game-high three blocks.
Ryan Broekhoff, Kevin Van Wijk and Matt Kenney scored 10 points apiece for Valparaiso (5-2). Broekhoff grabbed a game-high seven rebounds and tied Jett for game-high honors with three steals.
SLU was 20-of-36 from the field overall and drilled 4-of-9 from 3-point range. Meanwhile, Valparaiso connected on just 32.6 percent overall and 5-of-21 from beyond the arc.
The Billikens took command with a 14-2 run that expanded their lead from 35-31 to 49-33 midway through the second half.
Evans began the run with a layup off a pinpoint high-low entry pass from Remekun. Jake Barnett followed with a 3-pointer from the right wing, and it was 40-31 SLU.
The Bills missed on their next possession before finishing the run with points on their next four touches. Evans turned a steal into a three-point play, John Manning made a layup and Jett drove for a bucket. Two Evans free throws made it a 16-point Billiken advantage at the 10:52 mark.
Valparaiso stuck around, however, and cut the lead in half. Kenney buried two 3-pointers in a 12-4 surge, and the Crusaders trailed 53-45 with 3:32 remaining.
That was as close as Valpo would get, though, as Saint Louis held the visitors scoreless on their next four possessions. Ellis netted two free throws and McCall Jr. sank three of four from the stripe, increasing the lead to 58-45 and securing the victory.
Valparaiso led 5-0 after its first two possessions, but Saint Louis forged a 7-7 tie on baskets by Evans and Rob Loe and a 3-pointer by Ellis. After the Crusaders took a 9-7 edge, another Ellis 3-pointer and free throws by Jett and Manning put the Billikens on top 12-9.
Following a 10-3 run that gave Valpo a 19-15 lead, Saint Louis answered with a 16-5 outburst that gave the Billikens a 31-24 halftime cushion. SLU scored on seven of nine possessions during the run.
Jett ignited the flurry with a three-point play and then fed Manning for a dunk. McCall Jr.’s trey from the left wing made it 23-19 Bills. Evans scored the next six points on a dunk and four free throws, and Jett’s runner off the glass closed the first-half scoring.
Sunday’s contest was the first of a nine-game homestand for Saint Louis. The Billikens host North Texas Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m.
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