BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Saint Louis fell 90-78 to VCU Saturday in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Conference Men’s Basketball Championship at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
The Billikens, who were the fourth seed in the tourney, fall to 21-12. Top-seed VCU (26-7) won its eighth in a row and advances to tomorrow’s A-10 Championship final.
Javon Pickett led the way for SLU with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting. He posted four steals as well.
Yuri Collins registered a double-double of 12 points and 10 assists. He reached 1,000 career points late in the second half of today’s game.
Javonte Perkins scored in double figures with 13 points, while Larry Hughes Jr. tossed in a career-high 12 points, which included three 3-pointers.
Francis Okoro went down with an ankle injury seven minutes into the game and did not return.
The Billikens fell behind by as many as 15 in the first half, but rallied to make it a five-point game at halftime at 44-39.
VCU came out of halftime and quicky grew its lead to double digits and never looked back. Despite trailing by 25 at one point, the Billikens continued to fight back and pulled to within the final 12-point margin.
