The Bills shot 82.4 percent (14-of-17) from the foul line, their sixth mark of 82 percent or better in nine outings this season.
Saint Louis led 46-38 at intermission and stretched the margin to 13 points, 53-40, as Jimerson scored the Billikens’ first seven points of the second half.
After SIU (5-3) used a 7-0 spurt to narrow the gap to 53-47, Forrester’s dunk and two Collins free throws restored the lead to double digits, 57-47, with 12:49 remaining.
The Salukis assembled a 9-1 run, capped by one of Xavier Johnson’s six 3-pointers, to make it a 58-56 game at the midway point of the half. The Billikens answered with three-point plays by Collins and Thatch on consecutive possessions for a 64-56 advantage with 8:59 remaining.
A bucket by Pickett at the 6:28 mark gave SLU a 69-58 cushion, and Southern Illinois drew no closer than nine points the rest of the way. The Billikens led by as many as 16 before settling for a 13-point victory margin.
The Salukis held a pair of early three-point leads before the Billikens exploded for a 20-2 scoring outburst to take a 27-12 lead. Jimerson buried two of his three 3-pointers and Thatch also tossed in six points to spark the run.
SIU hung around with deadly 3-point shooting, recording five of its seven first-half treys over the last 9:26 of the half to make it an eight-point game at the break.
Up next for the Billikens is a trip to New Rochelle, N.Y., to take on Iona Tuesday, Dec. 6. SLU is back at Chaifetz Arena to host Boise State Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m.
