ST. LOUIS –
Javonte Perkins scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half to lead a Saint Louis comeback, but Dayton managed to hold on for a 76-71 Atlantic 10 Conference win over the 22nd-ranked Billikens Tuesday night at Chaifetz Arena.
SLU, playing its first game since Dec. 23, slipped to 7-2 overall and 0-1 in the A-10. Dayton improved to 9-4, 5-3.
Hasahn French, who was 6-of-8 from the field, matched his season high of 16 points.
Jordan Goodwin registered his 31st career double-double with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, and
Yuri Collins recorded a game- and season-high 11 assists.
The Billikens, who lead the A-10 in field goal percentage, connected on 52 percent (29-of-56) from the floor.
Jalen Crutcher scored a game-high 27 points and Ibi Watson tossed in 18 for Dayton, which finished 12-of-27 from 3-point distance. Crutcher (5-of-9) and Watson (4-of-6) combined for nine of the Flyers' 12 treys.
Elijah Weaver and Jordy Tshimanga contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds, respectively.
Dayton stretched a five-point halftime lead to nine, 49-40, with 11:37 remaining.
Marten Linssen tallied five points and French added four in a 13-4 spurt that knotted the score at 53 with 4:54 remaining. Perkins, whose bucket capped the run and pulled the Billikens even, connected again following two Dayton free throws to make it 55-all at the 4:31 mark.
Dayton put together a 14-4 flurry to establish its largest lead, 69-59, with 1:13 left, but Saint Louis hung around.
Gibson Jimerson's 3-pointer, a Collins steal and layup, and Perkins' three-point play and two free throws gave the Billikens a chance trailing 73-69 with 26 ticks left.
Perkins answered two Crutcher free throws with a dunk. But after Weaver sank one of two from the stripe with 15 seconds to play, the Billikens could draw no closer.
Dayton scored on Crutcher's 3-pointer after controlling the opening tip, and the Flyers maintained the upper hand throughout the first half.
After three more treys put Dayton on top 12-4, the Billikens answered with buckets by Goodwin, Linssen and
Fred Thatch Jr., and two free throws by French, to narrow the gap to 14-12 with 10:27 left.
The Flyers increased the margin to seven twice, the second time a 24-17 advantage. Perkins drove for a layup and tallied a three-point play on consecutive possessions, and it was 24-22 Dayton at the 5:56 mark.
That was as close as the Billikens would get in the opening frame. Dayton expanded its lead to eight points on three occasions before settling for a 36-31 edge at the break.
The Billikens play at Richmond Friday, Jan. 29, at 5:30 p.m. (CST). The game will be carried by ESPN2.
