EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Saint Louis utilized a 12-0 run midway through the second half to post a 68-55 victory against Fordham Wednesday night in Atlantic 10 Conference men's basketball action at IZOD Center.
The victory, the first on the road this season for SLU, lifts the Billikens' record to 7-11 overall and 2-3 in league play. Fordham dips to 6-10 overall and 0-4 in the A-10.
Junior guard Kyle Cassity led three Billikens in double figures with 13 points. Freshman forward Dwayne Evans added 12 points, while sophomore forward Cody Ellis chipped in 11. Evans led SLU with eight rebounds.
SLU led by six at halftime, but Fordham rallied to take a 38-36 lead with 12:43 left in the contest. However, SLU would take control with a 12-0 run midway through the second half and cruised to the 13-point victory. The SLU defense held Fordham without a field goal for more than 10 minutes in the second half as the Rams missed seven shots, and the Billikens forced six turnovers.
After the Rams led 40-39 at the 12:01 mark, Ellis' 3-pointer gave the Billikens a 42-40 lead they would not surrender the rest of the way. Rob Loe scored on a jumper, and Evans sank four straight free throws for a 48-40 lead with 8:48 remaining in the game. Cassity's trey closed out the SLU run to build a 51-40 advantage.
Fordham closed the gap to nine, and SLU's lead stood at 56-46 with six minutes left to play. However, the Billikens sealed the victory with a 9-2 run to take their biggest lead of the night at 65-48.
The Billikens hit 9-of-20 shots (45.0 percent) from 3-point range, while holding the Rams to just 1-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc.
SLU got off to a 12-2 start, keyed by 3-point baskets from Rob Loe and Mike McCall. A Cory Remekun jumper gave the Billikens an eight point lead at 19-8 left in the first half.
Fordham pulled itself back into the game and trailed by three, 24-21, with 3:57 remaining in the opening session. The Billikens benefited from 10 points off of Fordham's 11 first-half turnovers and led 28-22 at the break.
The Billikens, who have won two straight, return to action Wednesday, Jan. 26, when they host Rhode Island in an 8 p.m. game at Chaifetz Arena.
