Saint Louis pulls away from Loyola Chicago, 76-59

Courtesy of SLUBillikens.com

CHICAGO – Hot-shooting Saint Louis put three players in double-figures, led by Javonte Perkins’ 18 points, in a 76-59 Atlantic 10 Conference victory at Loyola Chicago Wednesday night at Gentile Arena. 

The Billikens extend their winning streak to four and improve to 13-6 overall and 5-1 in A-10 play. SLU remains tied for first in the league standings with Dayton and VCU with its 5-1 mark. Loyola falls to 6-12 overall and 0-6 in league play. 

SLU has tied the best six-game start in A-10 play during the Travis Ford era, matching the 2018-19 team’s 5-1 start to conference play. 

Perkins’ 18 points came on 7-of-9 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 from downtown. His hot shooting performance came on the heels of a season-high 27 points that he scored in the Billikens’ last outing at George Washington. 

Gibson Jimerson went for 13 points and he dished out a career-high seven assists. Sincere Parker scored 13 points, all coming in the first half and at a crucial juncture in the game. 

The Billikens have shot better than 50 percent in four straight halves dating back to the GW game. They finished with a 57.7 percent mark (30-52) from the field tonight, including a 47.4 percent mark from 3-point range. 

SLU outrebounded the Ramblers 36-21. Francis Okoro led the Billikens on the boards with 10 rebounds. 

The Billikens rallied to take a four-point lead into halftime, 38-34. Loyola Chicago led for the majority of the half before a late 9-0 Billiken spurt that gave SLU the lead. Parker drained a trey to tie the score at 32-all, and Larry Hughes Jr. followed with a long jumper giving the Bills their first lead of the game. Parker led all scorers at the break with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field. 

An early 6-0 run on treys by Terrence Hargrove Jr. and Perkins to start the second half gave the Billikens more breathing room, and SLU never looked back en route to the 17-point victory. 

It was the Billikens’ second-straight A-10 road win and the third of the season thus far. 

Saint Louis returns to Chaifetz Arena on Saturday, Jan. 21, to face the La Salle Explorers in a 1:30 p.m. tip. The game will be televised on the USA Network.