ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis freshman Milik Yarbrough posted his first-career double-double as the Billikens knocked off Vermont 58-55 Sunday afternoon at Chaifetz Arena.
It was the third win in a row for the Billikens, who improve their overall record to 8-4 and their home record to 6-2. Vermont, which has advanced to the postseason the last six years, falls to 5-6.
Yarbrough scored 10 points and grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds for the double-double, the Billikens' second of the season. His 13 boards are the most by a SLU player this season. Yarbrough also dished out a career- and game-high six assists.
Ash Yacoubou scored in double figures for the third straight game with 10 points. He also brought down seven rebounds and tied his career-best with three assists.
Austin McBroom and Mike Crawford scored nine points apiece for SLU. Austin Gillmann was perfect from the field (3-for-3) en route to seven points. The 6-foot-11 center also registered two assists, including the assist on a key layin by Yarbrough in the second half.
The Catamounts' Ethan O'Day scored a game-high 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting.
The Billikens got off to a quick start for the second consecutive game. They hit their first three shots and led 12-5 early on. But Vermont's Brandon Hatton drained consecutive treys to make it a one-point game midway through the first half.
The Catamounts briefly took the lead twice in the first half, but SLU responded both times and took a 25-24 advantage into halftime.
The second half saw the teams trade baskets until the Billikens hit some much-needed treys midway through the second half. Crawford, who was coming off a career-high 19 points in the last game, got it started with a 3-pointer with 11:32 left. Gillmann followed with a trey of his own at 9:11 and the Billikens led by five, 41-36.
With less than two minutes remaining and the Bills clinging to a six-point lead, Yacoubou took over and scored six straight points to give SLU a 56-44 advantage, its largest lead of the day, with 49 seconds remaining.
Vermont methodically chipped away at the lead and pulled to within three, but ran out of time and the Billikens hung on for the victory.
SLU will break for the Christmas holiday and returns to action Wednesday, Dec. 31, against Vanderbilt. Tip time on New Year's Eve Day is scheduled for 1 p.m. The game will be televised on FOX Sports Midwest.
