SLU’s Larry Hughes II defends a pass from Avila’s Christian Spaulding during Sunday’s NCAA basketball game at Chaifetz Arena. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
| NCAA Men’s Basketball | 1 | 2 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avila (0-2) | 26 | 18 | 44 |
| SLU (1-1) | 44 | 51 | 95 |
Cedric Williams
Senior Editor
ST. LOUIS, MO — New Saint Louis University men’s basketball head coach Josh Schertz picked up his first win with his new team on Sunday, when the Billikens defeated Avila University, 95-44, in a game at Chaifetz Arena.
Saint Louis was led by senior Gibson Jimerson, who scored 28 points, which included six three-pointers. Kellen Thames added 16 points and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. He also had four steals and proved to be a terror on defense for the Billikens all night.
Larry Hughes II also had a hot shooting night for Saint Louis. He made five three-pointers and scored 15 points.
SLU was without two likely starters in senior guard Kobe Johnson and junior center Robbie Avila. Both are dealing with injuries but hope to return soon.
Without Johnson and Avila, every scholarship player on SLU’s roster played at least nine minutes, as it was clear Schertz was trying out different combinations of players on the floor to see which ones worked best.
Avila, an NAIA school from Kansas City, hung around early and trailed by just one point midway through the first half. But SLU got going and went on a 16-0 run to take firm control of the game.
Saint Louis led 44-26 at halftime.
The second half was all Saint Louis. The Billikens went on separate 11-0, 14-1, and 18-3 runs to lead by 40 points with just under eight minutes remaining. SLU led by as many as 52 points before eventually winning by 51.
SLU’s Kellen Thames brings the ball upcourt during Sunday’s NCAA men’s basketball game against Avila University at Chaifetz Arena. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
The Billikens will be back in action on Saturday, November 16, when they will host Loyola Marymount. Opening tip at Chaifetz Arena that evening is set for 7 p.m., and the contest will be televised locally on the FanDuel Sports Network and streamed live nationally on ESPN+.
Avila 44
| ## | Player | GS | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | ORB-DRB | REB | PF | A | TO | BLK | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Kahube,Xavier | * | 30 | 6-13 | 0-0 | 4-4 | 2-3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 16 |
| 13 | Williams,Brionne | * | 19 | 3-4 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 1-4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 02 | Kearney,Joe | * | 18 | 2-6 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 12 | Jeffries,Brennan | * | 23 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 0-2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 05 | Lee III,Robert | * | 20 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1-3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 11 | Majeed,Jordan | 28 | 3-10 | 0-2 | 2-4 | 0-2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| 22 | Estill,Cameron | 11 | 1-3 | 0-1 | 1-3 | 3-2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 24 | Spalding,Christian | 10 | 0-4 | 0-2 | 2-2 | 0-2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 32 | Morris,Reginald | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 01 | Williams,George | 11 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 25 | Goins,Jehoiada | 10 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 23 | Tillery,Jalen | 8 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 34 | Kilpatrick,Josh | 8 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 15 | Kephart,Holden | 3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| TM | TEAM | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals | – | 200 | 16-48 | 0-11 | 12-21 | 8-24 | 32 | 13 | 6 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 44 |
SLU 95
| ## | Player | GS | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | ORB-DRB | REB | PF | A | TO | BLK | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Jimerson, Gibson | * | 27 | 9-17 | 6-11 | 4-4 | 3-1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 28 |
| 00 | Thames, Kellen | * | 25 | 7-11 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 5-3 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 16 |
| 01 | Swope, Isaiah | * | 27 | 2-10 | 1-9 | 3-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 04 | McCottry, Amari | * | 23 | 2-5 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 1-4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| 06 | Anya, Kalu | * | 23 | 2-5 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 3-5 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 02 | Hughes II, Larry | 17 | 5-8 | 5-8 | 0-0 | 1-4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | |
| 13 | Dotzler, Josiah | 14 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 0-1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 23 | Casey, AJ | 12 | 2-2 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |
| 14 | Brockhoff, Kilian | 9 | 2-5 | 0-3 | 1-1 | 0-1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | |
| 35 | Pikaar, Max | 13 | 1-3 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 0-6 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 12 | Holmes, Isaac | 5 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 0-1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 05 | Schertz, Jaden | 5 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| TM | TEAM | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals | – | 200 | 34-71 | 14-41 | 13-15 | 14-30 | 44 | 18 | 20 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 95 |
2024-25 SLU BILLIKENS MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV/Results | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 4, 2024 (Monday) | 2 pm | Neutral | Santa Clara | Sioux Falls, S.D. | L 85-78 (0-1) | ||
| November 10, 2024 (Sunday) | 3 pm | Home | Avila | Chaifetz Arena | W 95-44 (1-1) | ||
| November 16, 2024 (Saturday) | 7 pm | Home | Loyola Marymount | Chaifetz Arena |  | ||
| November 22, 2024 (Friday) | 9:30 pm | Neutral | Wichita State | Kansas City, Mo. (T-Mobile Center) | Peacock | ||
| November 25, 2024 (Monday) | 7 pm | Home | Quinnipiac | Chaifetz Arena | | ||
| November 27, 2024 (Wednesday) | 7 pm | Home | UMass Lowell | Chaifetz Arena | | ||
| December 2, 2024 (Monday) | 7 pm | Home | Jackson State | Chaifetz Arena | | ||
| December 5, 2024 (Thursday) | 9 pm | Away | San Francisco | San Francisco, Calif. (War Memorial) | | ||
| December 8, 2024 (Sunday) | 2 pm | Home | Chicago State | Chaifetz Arena | | ||
| December 15, 2024 (Sunday) | 4 pm | Away | Illinois State | Normal, Ill. (CEFCU Arena) | | ||
| December 18, 2024 (Wednesday) | 7 pm | Home | Wofford | Chaifetz Arena | | ||
| December 22, 2024 (Sunday) | 3 p.m. | Away | Grand Canyon | Phoenix, Ariz. (Global Credit Union Arena) | | ||
| December 28, 2024 (Saturday) | 7 pm | Home | William Woods | Chaifetz Arena | | ||
| December 31, 2024 (Tuesday) | 1 pm | Away | Fordham | New York, N.Y. (Rose Hill Gym) | | ||
| January 3, 2025 (Friday) | 8 pm | Home | Saint Joseph’s | Chaifetz Arena |  | ||
| January 8, 2025 (Wednesday) | 7 pm | Home | St. Bonaventure | Chaifetz Arena | Peacock | ||
| January 14, 2025 (Tuesday) | 6 pm | Away | VCU | Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center) | | ||
| January 18, 2025 (Saturday) | 1:30 pm | Away | Richmond | Richmond, Va. (Robins Center) | USA Network | ||
| January 22, 2025 (Wednesday) | 7 pm | Home | La Salle | Chaifetz Arena | | ||
| January 25, 2025 (Saturday) | 1 pm | Away | George Washington | Washington, D.C (Smith Center) | | ||
| January 28, 2025 (Tuesday) | 7 pm | Home | VCU | Chaifetz Arena | CBS Sports Network | ||
| January 31, 2025 (Friday) | 6 pm | Home | Dayton | Chaifetz Arena | | ||
| February 4, 2025 (Tuesday) | 6 pm | Away | Massachusetts | Amherst, Mass. (Mullins Center) | | ||
| February 7, 2025 (Friday) | 8 pm | Away | Saint Joseph’s | Philadelphia, Pa. (Hagan Arena) | ESPN Networks | ||
| February 11, 2025 (Tuesday) | 7 pm | Home | George Mason | Chaifetz Arena | | ||
| February 14, 2025 (Friday) | 6 pm | Away | Loyola Chicago | Chicago, Ill. (Gentile Arena) | | ||
| February 22, 2025 (Saturday) | 1:30 pm | Home | Rhode Island | Chaifetz Arena | USA Network | ||
| February 25, 2025 (Tuesday) | 6 pm | Away | Davidson | Davidson, N.C. (Belk Arena) | | ||
| March 1, 2025 (Saturday) | 3 pm | Home | Loyola Chicago | Chaifetz Arena | CBS Sports Network | ||
| March 4, 2025 (Tuesday) | TBA | Away | Dayton | Dayton, Ohio (UD Arena) | | ||
| March 8, 2025 (Saturday) | 7 pm | Home | Duquesne | Chaifetz Arena | | ||
| March 12-16 | TBA | Neutral | Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament | Washington, D.C. (Capital One Arena) |