Pittsburgh, Pa. - Kyle Cassity and Kwamain Mitchell combined to score 18 points in two overtime periods to help boost the Saint Louis Billikens to a thrilling 79-75 victory at Duquesne Wednesday night in Pittsburgh. The win, SLU's fourth straight in overtime, boosted the Billikens to a 2-0 mark in Atlantic 10 Conference play for the first time since joining the league five seasons ago. SLU is 11-5 overall, while the Dukes dip to 9-8 overall, 0-3 in the A-10.
To open the second overtime, Willie Reed scored on a dunk to boost the Billikens to a quick lead. After a Dukes turnover, Cassity drained a trey from the left side. A Christian Salecich hit one free throw, but the Dukes inched closer on a layup by Damian Saunders to get to 76-73 with 22 seconds left. Mitchell sank two free throws with 19 ticks left, but Saunders answered with another inside hoop to draw Duquesne to 78-75. Mitchell sank one free throw to seal the victory.
The Billikens had the opportunity to win the game in the first overtime, but Bill Clark sank a long 3-pointer from well beyond the arc to force the second overtime session. The Billikens won the tip to start the first overtime, and Cassity scored on a drive to give SLU the lead. Later, Duquesne scored five straight to take a three-point lead, but back-to-back baskets by Cassity and Mitchell out SLU up by one. After a block by Jon Smith, Mitchell hit two free throws with 22 seconds left for a three-point margin, but Clark's trey extended the game to a second overtime session.
Duquesne scored the first four points of the second half to build their largest lead at 31-23 just over a minute into the second half. The Billikens reeled off 11 unanswered points to turn a 36-28 deficit into a 39-36 lead at the 12:18 mark of the second half. The game was tied at 41-41 until a dunk by Reed pushed the Billikens up by a pair. The SLU margin was 44-42 until a quick 6-1 run gave the Bills a seemingly comfortable 50-43 lead with a little over four minutes left to go in regulation. Four straight points brought the Dukes to 50-47. Reed banked in a shot from the left block, but Duquesne answered with two free throws. In the final minute of regulation, Duquesne caused a turnover, and a jumper by Sean Johnson forced overtime.
The Billikens hit their first three shots, including a dunk by Femi John scored on a drive and Justin Jordan 3-pointer drew SLU to 26-23, and one free throw by Duquesne made it 27-23 at intermission.
Mitchell scored 19 points to lead the Billikens, and Cassity finished with 15 points and four assists. Cassity hit 6-of-7 shots from the field. In just his second game for the Billikens, Cody Ellis registered a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Damian Saunders was a force for the Dukes with 23 points and 17 rebounds. The Billikens are next in action Sunday, Jan. 17, when they travel to Charlotte for a 3 p.m. (CT) game. The contest will be nationally televised on CBS College Sports.
