ST. LOUIS – Yuri Collins tallied 20 assists to break his own Saint Louis single-game record, and the Billikens improved to 6-2 on the season with an 80-63 victory over Tennessee State Wednesday night at Chaifetz Arena.
 
Collins' 20 assists also equaled the Atlantic 10 Conference record and are the most by an NCAA Division I player this season. His previous school record of 19 assists was set vs. Boston College last season.
 
Collins also tied for game-high honors with eight rebounds as SLU out-rebounded Tennessee State (4-3) 46-32, including 27-14 in the second half. Javon Pickett and Jake Forrester collected seven boards apiece.
 
Pickett and Javonte Perkins led the Billikens' scoring attack with 15 points apiece. Pickett tallied 11 points in the first half, while Perkins netted the same total in the second stanza, including a 3-of-5 effort from 3-point range. Gibson Jimerson tossed in 11 points.
 
Francis Okoro had a season-high four blocks, and Pickett matched a career best with three steals.
 
The Billikens used a season-high 17 offensive rebounds to earn a 16-4 advantage in second-chance points. SLU also led 50-26 in points in the paint and committed a season-low eight turnovers.
 
Saint Louis took command with a 14-4 second-half spurt that turned a 43-33 lead into its largest advantage of the game, 57-37, with 10:54 to play. Perkins highlighted the run by scoring eight of his 11 second-half points, including two 3-pointers on consecutive possessions. Tennessee State drew no closer than 13 the rest of the way.
 
The Tigers of the Ohio Valley Conference led 16-13 before the Billikens used an 8-0 run to go on top 21-16 at the 9:44 mark of the first half.
 
Tennessee State answered with six straight points to gain a one-point edge, but from there it was all Saint Louis. The Billikens closed the half with a 15-4 run and carried a 36-26 lead into intermission.
 
SLU returns to action Saturday, Dec. 3, hosting Southern Illinois at 3 p.m.