CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Saint Louis junior guard Austin McBroom scored a career-high 26 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer with seven seconds remaining, as the Billikens rallied for a 60-57 victory over Bradley Saturday at the Corpus Christi Coastal Classic.
The game winning shot, which was similar to his go-ahead trey against Southern Illinois in the season opener, came after he dribbled the game clock down to less than 10 seconds to go. McBroom pushed forward, and when he didn't see anything develop he pulled back and buried the 3-pointer.
Bradley had one last chance with 7.4 seconds left, but a hurried 3-pointer was off the mark. The Braves corralled the rebound but were unable to get off another shot before the buzzer sounded.
With the win, SLU improves to 4-2 overall. It was the Billikens' third against a Missouri Valley Conference opponent this season. Bradley falls to 2-4.
McBroom finished 9-of-14 from the field and 6-of-9 from 3-point range. His 26 points eclipse his previous career-best of 24 against Southern Illinois in the season opener. McBroom's six 3-pointers are a career high and the most by a Billiken since Kwamain Mitchell buried seven treys against Rhode Island on Jan. 19, 2012.
Brett Jolly, who earned his first-career start, went 4-of-6 from the field for a career-best 10 points. He was also effective on the defensive end, drawing three charges.
Milik Yarbrough had 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the field, while Reggie Agbeko scored a career-high eight points. The Billikens utilized a nine-man rotation after playing all 12 available scholarship players in the previous five games.
The Billikens trailed the entire first half. Ash Yacoubou had a lay-in at the buzzer to send Saint Louis to the locker room trailing 34-27 at halftime.
SLU, which trailed by as much as 10 in the first half, pulled close by starting the second half on an 8-3 rally. Bradley regained control and led 44-39 with 11:02 remaining before the Billikens went to work.
Agbeko had a basket and McBroom hit a big 3-pointer to tie the score at 44-all with 9:43 left. Yarbrough would score the next four Billiken points in a 9-0 run to give SLU its first lead of the game.
The teams exchanged 3-pointers, then the Braves went on a 6-0 spurt to go on top 53-51 with 4:24 remaining.
SLU would get a pair of free throws from Jolly and a basket underneath by Yarbrough to regain the lead. A floater by McBroom put the Bills up by three, but Josh Cunningham nailed a 3-pointer with 41 seconds left to tie the score, setting up McBroom's late-game heroics.
The Billikens return to Chaifetz Arena to face Rockhurst on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The game, which is part of the Jesuit Basketball Spotlight, will be televised on FOX Sports Midwest.
