ST. LOUIS – Yuri Collins' record-setting performance led Saint Louis to a 79-68 victory over Boston College Saturday evening at Chaifetz Arena.
 
Collins registered a school-record 19 assists – also an NCAA single-game high this season – and added 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting.
 
SLU's previous single-game assists record of 18 was set by Jim Roder against Southern Miss in the 1986-87 season.
 
Gibson Jimerson buried a season-high five 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 19 points. Francis Okoro (7-of-8 FG) tossed in 17 points and added three blocks, while Jordan Nesbitt (3-of-6 from the arc) finished with 11 points. Okoro and Fred Thatch Jr. grabbed a game-high six rebounds apiece for the Billikens (8-3).
 
SLU's 79 points are the most allowed by Boston College (6-4) this season and 19 points above the Eagles' season defensive average coming into the game.
 
The Billikens shot 52.7 percent (29-of-55) overall, 40.7 percent (11-of-27) from 3-point range and 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from the foul line.
 
Boston College scored the first bucket of the game, but Saint Louis tallied the next six points and led the rest of the way.
 
Treys by Nesbitt and Jimerson gave the Billikens their first double-digit lead, 26-14, at the 3:52 mark of the first half and ignited a 16-5 spurt that put SLU on top 36-19 at intermission.
 
Collins buried a triple barely a minute into the second half to increase the margin to 20. Saint Louis stretched the lead to 54-31 on a Jimerson 3-pointer with 13:11 remaining, and the Billikens were never seriously challenged the rest of the way.
 
The Bills take a break for final exams before hosting nationally ranked Auburn Saturday, Dec. 18, at 8 p.m.