Late Second-Half Surge Sends Billikens Past Saint Joseph’s, 73-57

Robbie Avila posted his first double-double of the season, three other Saint Louis players neared a double-double, and the Billikens outscored Saint Joseph’s 24-8 over the final 8:22 to claim a 73-57 Atlantic 10 Conference victory over the Hawks Friday night at Chaifetz Arena.

SLU’s third consecutive win lifted the Billikens to 9-6 overall and 2-0 in the A-10. Saint Joseph’s, which saw its winning streak halted at four, slipped to 10-5, 1-1.

Avila matched his season high of four 3-pointers (4-of-8) in a 21-point effort, grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds and recorded five assists.

Isaiah Swope also netted four treys (4-of-9) on his way to a game-high 26 points, and he equaled his season best with a game-high eight assists. SLU had an assist on 20 of its 27 field goals for 74 percent, its second-highest percentage of the season.

Kalu Anya collected a game-high 15 rebounds to go with nine points, four assists and a season-high-tying two blocks.

Kobe Johnson chipped in eight points, a career-high eight rebounds and a career-high-tying two blocks.

After Swope’s layup with 12:59 left gave Saint Louis a 49-39 lead, Saint Joseph’s scored the next eight points to trim the margin to a field goal.

Following a timeout, Swope knocked down a 3-pointer that calmed the waters and bumped the lead to 52-47 at the 8:22 mark.

Saint Joseph’s ended a field goal drought of almost four minutes with a bucket that made it 58-52 Saint Louis with 4:53 remaining, but from there it was all Billikens. Avila and Swope scored five points apiece in a 12-2 run that put SLU on top 70-54 with 1:18 left.

The Bills jumped out to an 18-8 lead behind seven points apiece from Avila and Swope and four points from Johnson. Saint Joseph’s answered with a 14-2 run to take its only lead of the game, 22-20, with 7:49 remaining in the first half.

A Swope 3-pointer put the Billikens back in front for good.

Gibson Jimerson’s layup and buzzer-beating 3-pointer turned a two-point edge into a 36-29 halftime lead.

The Billikens host St. Bonaventure Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 7 p.m.