Saint Louis suffers 72-70 loss to Detroit Mercy

ST. LOUIS – Detroit Mercy’s Kameron Chatman’s last-second jumper lifted the Titans to a 72-70 win over Saint Louis on Wednesday.

It was SLU’s final game of the 2K Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project. The Billikens fall to 3-2 overall on the year, while Detroit Mercy improves to 3-2.

Jalen Johnson led Saint Louis with a career-high 24 points. He shot 8-of-15 from the field, 3-of-6 from 3-point range and 5-of-8 from the charity stripe.

Hasahn French recorded his first-career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. He recorded five blocks as SLU registered eight blocked shots as a team on the night. Jordan Goodwin scored eight points and added seven rebounds and seven assists.

Davell Roby hit a key 3-pointer with 1:30 left to give the Billikens a one-point lead at 69-68. Detroit Mercy’s Josh McFolley scored with :35 seconds left, giving the Billikens the ball with time still on the shot clock.

French was fouled and went to the line with :24 seconds remaining. He hit one of two free throws to tie the score at 70-all.

With the final shot, Detroit Mercy’s Chatman pulled up in the key and drained the last-second to secure the win.

The Billikens jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead thanks in part to a pair of early treys by Johnson. But several minutes later Detroit Mercy had pulled to within two. Another Johnson triple at the 3:40 mark of the first half put the Billikens on top by eight, but Detroit Mercy again rallied back. The Titans hit a 3-pointer at the end of the first half and the Billiken lead was down to two at the break.

It was a back-and-forth second half, with neither team holding more than a five-point lead. There were nine ties and seven lead changes in the second half alone.

Aaron Hines’ 3-pointer with 7:30 left made it a 58-53 SLU lead, but Detroit Mercy scored on the next possession as SLU was never able to establish a rally.

The Billikens are in action next on Tuesday, Nov. 28, when they face Western Michigan at Chaifetz Arena. Game time is 7 p.m., and it will be televised on FOX Sports Midwest.