Photo Credit: Saint Louis University Athletics
After a loss to Virginia Commonwealth University Rams, the Billikens headed home to take on the 15-11 (7-6) La Salle Explorers.
The La Salle Explorers started off to a great scoring in the paint with senior Steven Zack. The Billikens answered right back with a shot from junior Ash Yacoubou. The Billikens would take a 6-4 advantage. Then, the Billikens took another advantage growing their lead to 8-6. The Explorers responded by going on a 12-3 run over a 13-minutes.
The Billikens responded with a run of their own to cut the lead to 22-17. The teams would trade baskets all the way to halftime.
At halftime, the score was 25-19. Junior Ash Yacoubou had 10 points to lead the Billikens. The Billikens also had 11 turnovers in the first half.
Also, at halftime, the Billikens honored their 100 years of basketball by bring back the fan-voted All- Century Team that included recently graduated players like Jordair Jett and Dwayne Evans and past legends like Anthony Bonner.
The crowd and I wished that these players could still suit up and play along side this young Billiken squad.
The Billikens came out firing with freshmen Brett Jolly and Milik Yarbrough both hit jumpers to cut the lead to 25-23 forcing La Salle to call a timeout. The timeout helped La Salle’s cause as they come out on a 6-0 run over 3 minutes. The Billikens answered back with a jumper from freshman Austin Gillman and a three-pointer from sophomore Mike Crawford. This helped cut the lead to 31-28. Both teams traded baskets and each went on runs of their own, and the Billikens played themselves in this game by not allowing the Explorers to grow their lead larger than five.
With less than two minutes to play, the Billikens trailed the Explorers by three. Sophomore Mike Crawford drove to the rim and drew a foul going up. Crawford hit the free throw to compete the three-point play. After a an offensive rebound, freshman Davell Roby went coast to coast and finished with an easy lay in to tie the game at 56. The Billikens then stole the ball from the Explorers and freshman Milik Yarbrough found junior Ash Yacoubou who finished with a layup and gave the lead to the Bills.
La Salle called a timeout with 27 second left all the Billikens needed to do was get a stop. The Explorers went to hand off the ball, and junior Ash Yacoubou fouled on the exchange. This sent sophomore Jordan Price to the free-throw line, and he hit both free throws to tie the game at 58. The Billikens had a chance to win the game in regulation, but junior Ash Yacoubou was unable to hit a three. We were headed to overtime.
In overtime, freshman Davell Roby took over the game by scoring a layup and then a three-pointer to give the Billikens the lead 63-58. The Explorers cut the lead with a jumper to 63-60. Davell Roby drove to the rim and got fouled. He was able to hit one of two from the line to grow the lead to 64-62. The Billikens held the Explorers forcing the Explorers to foul and send sophomore Mike Crawford to the free-throw line. Crawford is an 81% from the free-throw line. He hit both free throws to grow the Billiken lead to 66-62. The Explorers were stopped by the Bills again and fouled Crawford again who hit another two from the line to grow the lead to 68-64. The result would stand, and the Billikens earned their third conference win of the season.
The Billikens were led by freshman Davell Roby who finished the game with 16 points including the five-point lead in overtime. The Billikens played inspired basketball hoping to honor and impress the Billiken legends as to say that the program was in good hands. The young “Billikids” squad wanted to win this game and played with the passion that shows that the program is on the right track toward better days.
The Billikens’ next game is Wednesday at Duquesne; tip-off is 6 pm.
Introducing the Billiken All-Century Team:
Players
Anthony Bonner (1986-90)
Dick Boushka (1951-55)
Erwin Claggett (1991-95)
Monroe Douglass (1985-89)
Dwayne Evans (2010-14)
Bob Ferry (1956-59)
Roland Gray (1985-89)
Scott Highmark (1991-95)
Larry Hughes (1997-98)
Jordair Jett (2010-14)
Kevin Lisch (2005-09)
Ed Macauley (1945-49)
Dan Miller (1945-48)
Jack Mimlitz (1955-58)
Kwamain Mitchell (2008-13)
Joe Wiley (1967-70)
Coaches
Eddie Hickey (1947-58)
Rick Majerus (2007-12)
Charlie Spoonhour (1992-99)
