Saint Louis took command with a big first-half run and went on to defeat VCU 80-62 Friday night in front of 9,234 fans at Chaifetz Arena.
The Billikens, who posted their largest victory margin vs. an Atlantic 10 Conference opponent this season, improved to 19-8 overall and 8-6 in league play. VCU dipped to 17-10, 7-7, matching its most lopsided defeat of the year and falling for a fourth straight time and fifth time in six outings.
Javonte Perkins scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Perkins was 8-of-11 from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, and 6-of-6 from the foul line.
Hasahn French tallied 18 points (9-of-13 FG) and seven rebounds. Jordan Goodwin recorded his 13th double-double of the season and third in succession with 10 points and a game-high 11 boards, and he added six assists. Terrence Hargrove Jr. tossed in 11 points.
Marcus Santos-Silva led VCU with 11 points and six rebounds. De’Riante Jenkins had 10 points and five rebounds.
Saint Louis shot 57.1 percent (32-of-56) from the floor, its best mark of the season in A-10 play. The Billikens have shot 50 percent or better in three consecutive games.
SLU earned a 41-26 edge on the glass, held VCU to 40 percent shooting and outscored the Rams 48-22 in the paint.
Yuri Collins collected a career-high 12 assists, equaling the NCAA Division I season high for a freshman.
Trailing 22-19 at the 7:51 mark of the first half, Saint Louis embarked on a 17-0 outburst to take a 36-22 lead. Hargrove Jr. scored six points, Perkins tossed in five and French added four to lead the way.
VCU cut the margin to 10 with 1:37 remaining, but Perkins completed an 18-point first half with two free throws and a bucket to put the Billikens on top 41-27 at the break.
The Bills built their first 20-point cushion, 49-29, with 16:22 left. VCU pulled to within 14 points, 60-46, at the 10:50 mark, but a 12-3 spurt gave SLU its largest lead, 72-49, with 7:53 remaining. Collins scored five of the 12 points.
VCU narrowed the gap to 74-62 with 1:42 to play, but the Rams did not score the rest of the way.
The Billikens are back at Chaifetz Arena Wednesday, Feb. 26, against Saint Joseph’s. Tip time is 8 p.m., and the game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
