COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) - With a career-high 26 points, including three 3-pointers from sophomore Tommie Liddell, Saint Louis cruised to an 87-65 win over Louisiana Tech in the first game of the Shelby Metcalf Classic at Texas A&M. The Billikens turned a one-point deficit into an 11-point halftime lead with an 11-3 run over the last three minutes of the period, sparked by Kevin Lisch's shot clock beating 3-pointer at the 3:02 mark. Ian Vouyoukas wrapped up the double-digit scorers for SLU with 14 points to go with 11 rebounds.
The Billikens built an early six-point lead but saw La. Tech's 3-point shooting help the game see-saw back and forth. The Bulldogs three times pushed ahead by three, but held their final lead of the game at 26-27 on Chad McKenzie's jumper with 6:40 remaining. Liddell hit a bucket, and Vouyoukas nailed a pair of free throws to push the Billiken lead to 30-27 with 5:31 left in the half. SLU weathered a series of turnovers in the next minute, and Lisch's triple made it a 35-29 margin.
The Bulldogs would draw no closer in the contest as SLU continued to press its lead early in the second half. A Luke Meyer 3-pointer pushed the lead to 21 points less than four minutes into the second stanza. With 3:39 remaining in the game, the lead reached its peak of 25 points on Lisch's fourth 3-pointer of the night.
The Billikens' 87 points are the most under head coach Brad Soderberg, eclipsing the 83 scored against Grambling State on Dec. 18, 2002. SLU shot 56 percent from the field and a sizzling 75 percent (12-of-16) from 3-point land. Lisch hit 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, while Liddell drained a career-best three triples on four attempts from long range. Junior Dwayne Polk handed out a career-high nine assists, adding three steals and nine points to the Billiken effort as well.
Saint Louis returns to the Reed Arena court to take on Lamar on Sat., Nov. 18, at 4:30 p.m. The Billikens then will face No. 12 Texas A&M on Sun., Nov. 19, at 5:30 p.m. in a game that will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Midwest for customers in the state of Missouri.
