SPRINGFIELD, Mo - Southwest Missouri State shut down Saint Louis 70-59 tonight in a men's non-conference basketball game at the Hammons Center. Billiken junior guard Reggie Bryant pumped in 22 second half points, but it wasn't enough to prevent SLU from its third straight loss away from Savvis Center.
"It was a disappointing effort," Billikens head coach Brad Soderberg. "We got out-played at both ends of the floor."
Although Saint Louis jumped out on top 6-2, the Billikens' offense began to misfire when Bryant, the Bills' leading scorer, went to the bench with two fouls just 3:30 into the game. SMS went on a 10-0 run to take command of the game. When SMS freshman guard Blake Ahearn tossed in a trey from the deep left corner, the Bears had their biggest lead 30-17 at the half. The Bears shot 45 percent in the first half compared to the Bills' 32 percent and out-rebounded SLU 18-11.
With Bryant coming out firing from the lockerroom, the Bills quickly cut the lead to 32-24 on senior guard Josh Fisher's threeball. SMS responded with a 7-0 run capped by another Ahearn triple, and the Bears enjoyed their largest lead at 41-26 with 13:10 to play.
But Bryant kept hunting shots and burying treys. SLU cut the margin to 46-40 on Bryant's fastbreak trey and had a chance to make it a five-point play when senior forward Ross Varner was fouled on a screen. Varner missed the front end of the 1-and-1 free throw opportunity, and then missed again on another 1-and-1 on the Bills' next possession.
Saint Louis kept the pressure on, and Bryant knocked down another three as SLU crept within 48-45 at the 7:39 mark. But that's as close as the Bills would come. With SLU trailing by four, Bears center Monwell Randle tipped in a missed shot with 5:24 remaining to give SMS a 53-47 lead and sealed the Bills' fate.
Bryant finished as the game's leading scorer, and Ahearn led SMS with 21. The Bears (7-4) had three other players in double figures as Tamarr Maclin collected a double-double with 13 points and 13 boards. Kellen Easley came off the bench to provide 11 points, and Randle finished with 10. The Bears dominated the glass by grabbing 14 offensive rebounds and out-boarded SLU 41-25. SMS also had a huge advantage at the free throw line converting 25-of-35 attempts, while the Bills were 7-14
The Bills recovered from the first half to shoot 42.6 percent from the field, 25 percent from three and 53.8 percent from the line. Fisher was the only other Billiken in double figures with 16 points.
Saint Louis (4-4) returns to Savvis Center on Sat., Dec. 27, to entertain Butler in a 7 p.m. start.
