Five Saint Louis players scored in double figures, and the Billikens shot 57 percent from the field in a 74-50 victory over Rockhurst Monday night at Chaifetz Arena.
Jalen Johnson (5-of-7 FG, 3-of-4 from three) led the way with 14 points. Hasahn French (6-of-9) tallied 13 points and tied for game-high honors with eight rebounds.
Javon Bess (3-of-4), Davell Roby (3-of-6) and D.J. Foreman (4-of-6) scored 10 points apiece. Jordan Goodwin enjoyed a strong all-around game, recording game highs of eight assists, four steals and two blocks to go with eight points and six rebounds.
Rockhurst (1-1) got 15 points from Auston Rushing, 13 from Curtis Lewis and 12 from Eddie Muench. The trio combined for 11 of the Hawks’ 12 treys.
Saint Louis (2-0) earned a 37-25 edge on the glass and also posted big advantages in free throws (18-4), points in the paint (35-10), points off turnovers (17-8), second-chance points (11-0) and fast-break points (17-2).
The Billikens sprinted to a 17-3 lead with 12 minutes left in the first half, but Rockhurst chipped away and trailed just 29-26 after Rushing hit from beyond the arc at the buzzer.
Roby’s triple at the 15:44 mark of the second half made it 41-30 Saint Louis, but consecutive triples by Lewis and Muench trimmed the margin to five.
Two Goodwin free throws with 10:55 to play put SLU on top 48-38, and the Bills gradually expanded the lead the rest of the way.
Up next for Saint Louis is Virginia Tech at New York’s Madison Square Garden Thursday, Nov. 16. Tip time is 6 p.m. (CT), and the game will be televised by ESPN2. It’s the Billikens’ second game of the 2K Classic benefiting Wounded Warriors Project.
