ST. LOUIS – Davell Roby and Mike Crawford combined for 26 second-half points, and Saint Louis outscored La Salle 17-8 over the final 1:47 of regulation and overtime to register a come-from-behind, 68-64 Atlantic 10 Conference victory Sunday afternoon at Chaifetz Arena.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Billikens (11-16, 3-11 A-10). La Salle fell to 15-12, 7-7.
Roby, who equaled his career high of 16 points, and Crawford, who tallied 10, scored all of their points in the second half and overtime.
Roby's total included a 3-of-6 effort from 3-point range. Crawford hit a 3-pointer, converted a key three-point play near the end of regulation and was 5-of-5 from the foul line, including four free throws in the final nine seconds of overtime.
Ash Yacoubou added 13 points for the Billikens, while Milik Yarbrough pulled down a game-high seven rebounds.
La Salle's Jordan Price scored a game-high 22 points, and Steve Zack tossed in 16. Jerrell Wright led the Explorers with six rebounds.
Saint Louis, which trailed by six points at halftime, pulled to within a basket on four occasions in the second half. The Billikens finally broke the two-point barrier when Marcus Bartley drilled a trey from the left corner to cut the La Salle lead to 49-48.
After Zack and Price scored on La Salle's next two possessions to up the lead to 53-48, Roby answered with a triple from the left corner to make it 53-51. Price sank three of four from the foul line to restore the Explorers' five-point edge.
Crawford sparked an end-of-regulation 7-2 spurt with a baseline drive that turned into a three-point play. The Bills forced a turnover, and Roby tied it at 56 with an offensive rebound and put-back.
Following another La Salle miscue, Yacoubou gave SLU its first lead since an early 4-2 advantage with a strong drive to the hole. He was fouled but missed the free throw, and a pair of Price free throws with 32 seconds left forged a 58-58 deadlock.
A potential game-winning shot for Saint Louis was off the mark, and the Billikens found themselves in overtime for a second time this season.
La Salle controlled the tip in the extra session but failed to take the lead. Roby put the Bills on top 63-58 with a drive and a trey, but SLU went scoreless on its next three possessions and saw the Explorers cut the lead to 63-62.
After Roby doubled the margin by making one of two free throws, the Billikens caught a break on La Salle's next possession. Price's 3-point attempt stuck between the rim and backboard – creating an alternating possession situation – and the arrow pointed Saint Louis' way.
Following a timeout, Crawford converted twice from the line. The Billikens were not out of the woods after D.J. Peterson made a pair from the stripe with 5.8 seconds left, but Crawford iced the victory with two more charity tosses after being fouled on the inbounds pass.
Saint Louis' only first-half lead was 4-2 following baskets by Yacoubou and Miles Reynolds. La Salle used an 18-5 run, including 10 of Price's 11 first-half points, to go on top 20-9.
The Billikens answered with an 8-2 spurt to narrow the gap to five, 22-17. La Salle owned a 25-19 advantage at intermission.
Saint Louis travels to Pittsburgh to take on Duquesne Wednesday, Feb. 25. Tip time is 6 p.m. (CT).
