SLU Men's Basketball Game Notes & Information
Game No. 23	Saint Louis (15-7, 7-2 A-10) vs. VCU (17-6, 8-2 A-10)
Date // Time	Friday, Feb. 3, 2023 // 6 p.m. CT
Location	St. Louis, Mo. (Chaifetz Arena)
Radio	KMOX 1120 AM (Bob Ramsey, Earl Austin Jr.)
TV	ESPN2 (Mike Corey, Dalen Cuff)
Tickets	Available here
Live Stats	StatBroadcast
Game Notes	Saint Louis
Series	VCU leads 11-5

QUICK PREVIEW 
 
Saint Louis and VCU battle for first place in the Atlantic 10 Conference on Friday night at Chaifetz Arena. Game time is set for 6 p.m. (CT).
 
The Billikens and Rams enter the weekend atop the league standings, with VCU owning a half-game edge after Tuesday's results that saw the Billikens fall at Fordham while VCU squeaked out a win at Davidson.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION 
 
Friday's game will be televised on ESPN2 as part of the A-10/ESPN Friday Night Showcase. Mike Corey and Dalen Cuff have the call.
 
The radio broadcast will air on the home for the Billikens, KMOX 1120 AM. As always, Billiken Hall of Famers Bob Ramsey and Earl Austin Jr. will be on the call.
 
PROMOTIONS AND TICKETS
 
Friday's game is the annual Billiken Blizzard game. All SLU fans are encouraged to wear white. Free t-shirts will be placed on 10,000+ seats at Chaifetz Arena for fans, courtesy of game sponsor Edward Jones. Fans may exchange shirts for a different size at the marketing table in the concourse behind sections 119/121.
 
Due to an expected large crowd, fans are encouraged to arrive to Chaifetz Arena early. The official tipoff time on ESPN2 is scheduled for 6:01 p.m. (CT).
 
Tickets remain available by clicking here. Upper-level seats for just $5 can be purchased here.
 
FIVE FACTS
 
1 // Yuri Collins, who will be making his 100th career start on Friday, continues to hold the overwhelming lead in the NCAA in assists (213) and assists per game (10.1). He also scores 11.9 ppg (second on team), making him the only player in the NCAA averaging a points/assists double-double.
 
2 // Francis Okoro leads the A-10 in rebounding with 8.8 rpg. He is coming off a season-high 21 points against Fordham. Three games ago against La Salle, Okoro pulled down a career-best 20 rebounds, the most by an A-10 player this season.
 
3 // The Billikens have won six straight A-10 home games at Chaifetz Arena dating back to last season.     
 
4 // Gibson Jimerson, who leads the team in scoring, needs one more 3-pointer for 200 in his career, which would tie him for fifth all-time in school history with Kwamain Mitchell.
 
5 // Saint Louis leads the A-10 in scoring offense (76.2 ppg). The Bills also lead the conference and are 12th nationally with 39.7 rpg. Their 29.2 defensive rebounds per game rank fifth in the NCAA.
 
ABOUT VCU
 
The VCU Rams are 17-6 overall and in first place in the A-10 with an 8-2 record. The Rams have posted four straight A-10 road wins – at Loyola Chicago, Dayton, Richmond and Davidson.
 
Ace Baldwin scores 12.2 ppg and leads VCU in assists, while Brandon Johns Jr. shoots 51.4 percent from the floor en route to 12.1 ppg. Jalen DeLoach is the Rams' top rebounder at 7.0 rpg while contributing 9.5 ppg.
 
Jamir Watkins (9.9) and Jayden Nunn (9.1) also score above 9.0 ppg. David Shriver has buried a team-high 42 3-pointers.
 
Head coach Mike Rhoades is in his sixth season at VCU with a 119-59 record. He has a career record of 363- 187. This is Rhoades' second stint at VCU as he served as an assistant coach for four seasons, including the year VCU went to the Final Four in 2011.
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
VCU leads the all-time series 11-5, though the Billikens have won two out of the last three including the last two games played at Chaifetz Arena.
 
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
 
The postgame press conference will be streamed live on YouTube here.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Billikens take on the Rhode Island Rams on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at Chaifetz Arena in an 8 p.m. (CT) tip. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.