Francis Okoro and Fred Thatch Jr. posted double-doubles, and Gibson Jimerson scored a game-high 19 points as Saint Louis rolled to a 71-51 victory over La Salle Thursday in a second-round matchup at the Atlantic 10 Conference Men’s Basketball Championship at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
The fifth-seeded Billikens (22-10) advance to the quarterfinals, where they face No. 4 St. Bonaventure Friday at 1:30 p.m. (CT). That game will be televised on USA Network and carried on KMOX.
Okoro finished with 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season. He shot 8-11 from the floor and blocked a pair of shots as well. Thatch went for 10 points and 11 rebounds for this fourth double-double, and he led the Billikens with four assists.
Jimerson connected on three treys as part of his 19 points. He surpassed H Waldman for fourth in school history in 3-point field goals in a season with his 74th triple of the season.
Yuri Collins also scored in double figures for the Billikens, who shot 44.3 percent from the field.
The Billikens were staunch defensively, allowing the Explorers (11-19) to shoot just 31.5 percent from the field and 15.4 percent from 3-point range. La Salle was held to just 16 points in the first half. Saint Louis won the battle on the glass as well, 48-33.
The teams traded baskets early on. With the score tied 11-11, the Billikens went on an 8-0 run to grab the lead and they never looked back.
SLU grew its lead to 18 at halftime and led by as many as 33 midway through the second half to earn a trip into the quarterfinals for the fourth straight A-10 Championship.
The Bonnies and Billikens have already met twice this year, with St. Bonaventure winning both matchups.
