CINCINNATI-Cincinnati stretched Saint Louis' losing streak to three as the Bearcats topped the Billikens 68-61 tonight in a Conference USA men's basketball game before 13,176 fans at The Shoemaker Center. The Bearcats rallied from a 9-point second half deficit by virtue of a whopping 42-14 advantage in attempts from the free throw line.

"That free throw differential was interesting, and was a difficult deficit to overcome," Billikens head coach Lorenzo Romar said. "

As has been the case in many games this season that the Billikens have lost, Saint Louis controlled the tempo for a majority of the game but it slipped away late. The clubs traded the lead in the early going but Matt Baniak's three-pointer provided SLU with a 19-16 advantage with 13:14 to play in the first half and the Billikens would maintain a lead until the intermission.

Saint Louis built its largest lead to eight on a Justin Tatum traditional three-point play at 36-28 with 3:10 remaining in the half. Tatum dominated the half with 11 points in only 12 minutes of action. But the Billikens would only get two more points on Josh Fisher's free throws the rest of the way as the Bearcats closed the half with a 7-to-2 run. SLU center Chris Heinrich missed a pair of 1-and-1 free throw opportunities that later would prove to be crucial.

The Billikens started quickly again in the second half and immediately built the lead to nine on two Matt Baniak lay-ups and a Heinrich lay-in. The Billikens' defense didn't allow Cincinnati a basket until Immanuel McElroy dunked at the 13:23 mark. McElroy's three-point play kept the 'Cats within 45-42.

Saint Louis still led 49-44 on Maurice Jeffers' driving shot at 10:13. When UC guard Leonard Stokes dropped in a jumper at 9:44, the 'Cats had scored seven of their first 11 points on free throws. The parade to the line continued as UC shot 28 tosses in the second half.

UC finally caught the Bills as Kenny Satterfield drilled a trey with 8:09 remaining to tie the game at 49. Stokes' shot in the lane gave UC its first lead of the second half, but Bills' point guard Marque Perry answered with a three-point play to reclaim the lead. SLU enjoyed its last lead at 53-52 on Tatum's free throw with 6:23 left.

Cincinnati ran off seven unanswered as Stokes dropped in a lay-up, and the 'Cats hit five consecutive free throws. The Billikens responded with a 6-0 tear off their own to climb within 60-59 with 2:33 remaining as Jeffers tipped in his own miss to cap the rally. That was as close as Saint Louis could get. UC dropped in four more tosses to salt it away.

The Bearcats' guards combined for 43 of their total points as Satterfield had 17, Stokes added 14 off the bench and Logan checked in 12. That trio also was a combined 17-of-25 from the free throw stripe. McElroy chipped in with 14.

"Cincinnati played to its strength, which is its backcourt," Romar said. "We did have trouble with their penetration which led to many of the fouls."

Baniak, Perry and Tatum each had 13 to lead Saint Louis, while Heinrich had a strong game with nine rebounds. Although Saint Louis outscored the 'Cats 36-14 in the paint, the Bills were plagued by 16 turnovers.

The Billikens (13-13, 5-8) return to Savvis Center to host surging Charlotte on Sunday for a nationally televised 6 p.m. game.