ST. LOUIS (AP) - Saint Louis senior guard Josh Fisher completed a traditional three-point play with eight seconds remaining to lift the Billikens past Kansas State 65-64 this afternoon before 9,146 fans at Savvis Center. The Bills rallied from a five-point deficit with 1:21 to play to snatch the victory.
"I thought we were in trouble in the last two minutes, because it just didn't feel right," Billikens head coach Brad Soderberg. "But Chris Sloan again made a big shot, and Josh recognized the defense and made a play."
SLU led 51-46 with 8:42 remaining when the Wildcats made their move. Freshman guard Cartier Martin scored 10 consecutive points, including back-to-back triples, as KSU tied the game at 51. With SLU trailing 58-57, Fisher was called for a charging foul that the Bills' bench vehemently argued. The foul wiped out a 3-on-2 situation that seemed to result in two free throws for Chris Sloan.
On the ensuing KSU possession, forward Marques Hayden tipped in his second put-back of the night, and then the Bills threw away a pass that resulted in Wildcats guard Frank Richards' break-away lay-up. The Bills appeared to be doomed as they trailed 62-57 with 2:29 remaining.
After Reggie Bryant knocked down a pair of free throws, KSU's Martin answered with a free throw line jumper, and K-State still had the five-point advantage with 1:21 left. SLU's Sloan drilled a trey from the left corner, and the 'Cats Richards missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 27 seconds left.
Fisher took the ball to the goal with a lefty lay-up and was fouled by KSU's Martin. "We were trying to get Reggie coming off a screen on the baseline, but they went man-to-man, so I just took it to the basket and was fortunate to make it."
After a Wildcat timeout, Fisher knocked down the game-winning free throw. K-State pushed the ball up the floor and tried to post leading scorer Jeremiah Massey, but Bryant stepped in and stole the entry pass.
"It's the end of the game, and you're just trying to make a play," Bryant said. "Our coaching staff prepares us, and I read the play and came up with the steal."
Bryant finished with a game-high and career-high 25 points as he set a team record with 16 three-point attempts and tied the school record with seven made treys. Fisher popped in 17 points. Facing the zone except for that one possession, the Bills attempted 36 threeballs and set a team record with 15 made treys. SLU only had six two-point goals as it shot 37.5 percent from the field, 41.7 percent from three and 88.9 percent from the free throw line. Sloan added a game-high eight rebounds.
K-State (7-3) shot 51 percent from the field, 33 percent from three and 88.9 percent from the line. Martin was the only Wildcat in double figures with 19 points.
Saint Louis (7-4) opens Conference USA action on Wed., Jan. 7, at TCU.
