ST. LOUIS –
Gibson Jimerson matched his season bests of 28 points and six 3-pointers,
Robbie Avila scored 23 points, and Saint Louis concluded non-conference play with a 78-57 victory over William Woods Saturday night at Chaifetz Arena.
Jimerson equaled his career high of three steals. Avila added six rebounds, a game- and career-high four steals, and a game-high six assists.
Max Pikaar registered five blocks, tying the third-highest total by an Atlantic 10 Conference player this season, and joined Avila and
Dylan Warlick as SLU's leading rebounders with six apiece. Warlick's six boards and nine points were career highs.
The Billikens shot 54 percent (27-of-50) from the field overall and 42.1 percent (8-of-19) from 3-point range, their second-highest marks in both categories this season.
William Woods scored the first four points of the second half to trim a 10-point halftime deficit to six, 44-38, but it was all Saint Louis from there.
Jimerson buried a 3-pointer and Avila scored in the paint to give SLU a 49-38 lead.
Kobe Johnson's layup with 14:21 left put the Billikens in front 51-40, and the margin remained in double digits the rest of the way.
Avila scored five points in a 7-0 run that gave Saint Louis a 61-44 cushion at the 9:40 mark. William Woods narrowed the gap to 11 points, 63-52, with 6:53 to play, but Jimerson connected on a trey and a layup on SLU's next two possessions, and the Billikens coasted from there.
After William Woods grabbed a 7-6 lead, Saint Louis used a 24-9 spurt to earn its largest first-half lead, 30-16, with 8:50 remaining. Jimerson tallied 13 points, including three buckets from beyond the arc, during the run.
William Woods refused to fold, however, and sliced the margin to six points on three occasions, the last time 36-30 at the 3:50 mark. Warlick sparked a Saint Louis response with five points down the stretch, and it was 44-34 Billikens at intermission.
Saint Louis begins A-10 play Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Fordham. Tip time is 1 p.m. Central, and the game will be carried on ESPN+.
