ST. LOUIS – A sizzling second-half shooting display, including a stretch of eight field goals in nine possessions during a game-sealing 22-6 run, powered No. 19 Saint Louis to an 82-58 Atlantic 10 Conference victory over La Salle Saturday afternoon in front of 9,874 at Chaifetz Arena.
 
SLU's 23-1 overall record is the best 24-game mark in program history. The Billikens are 11-0 in conference play, one win shy of the 2013-14 team for the program's best A-10 start.
 
Additionally, the Bills extended their overall winning streak to 17 games – the third-longest active streak in NCAA Division I men's basketball – and their Chaifetz Arena winning streak to 18 dating to last season.
 
After shooting just 41.7 percent overall and 30 percent from 3-point range in the first half, Saint Louis caught fire following intermission.
 
The Billikens connected on 58.6 percent (17-of-29) overall and 50 percent (10-of-20) from the arc in the second half to finish the game at 50.9 percent (27-of-53) overall and 43.3 percent (13-of-30) from deep. It was SLU's 14th game (seventh in A-10 action) of 50 percent or higher overall; 11th game (eighth in conference play) of 40 percent or higher from 3-point distance; and 17th game (ninth in 11 A-10 games) with a double-digit 3-point total.
 
Ishan Sharma shot 5-of-9 from beyond the arc and led the Billikens with 15 points. Amari McCottry, who sank a career-high seven free throws, scored 10 of his 13 points in the second half and matched his season high of five assists.
 
Quentin Jones' 5-of-7 shooting effort included 3-of-3 from distance. Jones added a team-high six rebounds and a career- and game-high four blocks to his 13 points. Dion Brown was 5-of-8 from the field and finished with 12 points, and Robbie Avila narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and a game-high and career-high-tying eight assists.
 
Saint Louis led by four points at halftime and gradually increased the margin to 12, 52-40, with 10:43 remaining.
 
La Salle's 8-2 mini run sliced the lead in half, 54-48, at the 8:26 mark. But following a timeout, SLU quickly regained momentum with a long-distance barrage.
 
The Billikens buried 3-pointers on five consecutive possessions – three by Sharma and two by Brady Dunlap – McCottry followed with two buckets from close range, and Jones punctuated the outburst with a triple that made it 76-54 with 3:16 to play.
 
The 24-point victory margin was SLU's largest lead of the afternoon.
 
After La Salle built a 6-1 lead, Saint Louis outscored the Explorers 16-5 to gain its biggest first-half advantage, 19-13, with 7:13 left.
 
La Salle inched back and knotted the score four times, the last a 25-all deadlock with 2:31 remaining. Jones canned a 3-pointer to put Saint Louis ahead for good, Sharma followed with a trey of his own on the next possession, and the Billikens took a 31-27 lead to the locker room.
 
The Bills play their next two games on the road, beginning with Loyola Chicago Friday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. ESPN2 will have the telecast.