Billiken forward Brady Dunlap makes a move with the ball during SLU’s exhibition game against Bradley on Thursday. (Photo courtesy: SLU Athletics)

PEORIA, IL — The Saint Louis University men’s basketball team earned a 98-77 win in an exhibition game against Peoria, Thursday night at Carver Arena.

The teams played five 10-minute periods in the preseason matchup between two clubs that are expected to compete well in their respective conferences. Saint Louis was picked to finish second in the Atlantic 10 Conference, while Bradley was picked to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference.

SLU junior and native St. Louisan, Kellen Thames led the Billikens with 19 points and eight rebounds in the first 40 minutes of play.

Eight different SLU players hit at least one three-pointer, led by sophomore transfer from Virginia, Ishan Sharma, who went four-for-nine from distance, on his way to scoring 16 points. Robbie Avila, Amari McCottry, and Paul Otieno each scored 11 points for the Billikens as well.

Junior forward Kellen Thames scored 19 points in SLU’s exhibition game win over Bradley on Thursday. (Photo: Cedric Williams)

SLU led 24-22, following a tight first period. But the Billikens took control in the second, when they went ahead 51-42 heading into “halftime”.

In the “second half”, SLU stretched its lead to 20 points, before both teams emptied their benches and played mostly freshmen and walk-ons in the final period.

The contest against Bradley will be SLU’s only exhibition game of the preseason.

SLU will open its regular season on Monday, November 3, with a matchup against Southeast Missouri State. Tip off that night at Chaifetz Arena is set for 7 p.m.

2025-26 SLU BILLIKENS MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

DateTimeAtOpponentLocationTV
November 3, 2025 (Monday)7 pmHomeSEMOChaifetz Arena
November 6, 2025 (Thursday)7 pmHomeChicago StateChaifetz Arena
November 10, 2025 (Monday)7 pmHomeLindenwoodChaifetz Arena
November 15, 2025 (Saturday)7 pmHomeGrand CanyonChaifetz Arena
November 21, 2025 (Friday)7 pmHomePurdue-Fort WayneChaifetz Arena
November 27, 2025 (Thursday)6 pmNeutralSanta ClaraPalm Desert, Calif.
November 28, 2025 (Friday)TBANeutralMinnesota or StanfordPalm Desert, Calif.
December 2, 2025 (Tuesday)9 pmAwayLoyola MarymountLos Angeles, Calif.
December 7, 2025 (Sunday)2 pmHomeCentral MichiganChaifetz Arena
December 13, 2025 (Saturday)7 pmHomeSan FranciscoChaifetz Arena
December 17, 2025 (Wednesday)7 pmHomeBethune-CookmanChaifetz Arena
December 21, 2025 (Sunday)2 pmHomeNew HampshireChaifetz Arena
December 28, 2025 (Sunday)2 pmHomePrincipiaChaifetz Arena
December 31, 2025 (Wednesday)3 pmHomeSaint Joseph’sChaifetz Arena
January 7, 2026 (Wednesday)6 pmAwayVCURichmond, Va.
January 10, 2026 (Saturday)3 pmAwayLa SallePhiladelphia, Pa.
January 14, 2026 (Wednesday)7 pmHomeFordhamChaifetz Arena
January 17, 2026 (Saturday)3 pmHomeRichmondChaifetz Arena
January 20, 2026 (Tuesday)6 pmAwayDuquesnePittsburgh, Pa.
January 23, 2026 (Friday)4:30 pmAwaySt. BonaventureSt. Bonaventure, N.Y.
January 27, 2026 (Tuesday)7 pmHomeGeorge WashingtonChaifetz Arena
January 30, 2026 (Friday)7 pmHomeDaytonChaifetz Arena
February 3, 2026 (Tuesday)8 pmAwayDavidsonDavidson, N.C.
February 7, 2026 (Saturday)2 pmHomeLa SalleChaifetz Arena
February 13, 2026 (Friday)7:30 pmAwayLoyola ChicagoChicago, Ill.
February 17, 2026 (Tuesday)6 pmAwayRhode IslandKingston, R.I.
February 20, 2026 (Friday)6 pmHomeVCUChaifetz Arena
February 24, 2026 (Tuesday)6 pmAwayDaytonDayton, Ohio
February 28, 2026 (Saturday)7 pmHomeDuquesneChaifetz Arena
March 4, 2026 (Wednesday)7 pmHomeLoyola ChicagoChaifetz Arena
March 7, 2026 (Saturday)3 pmAwayGeorge MasonFairfax, Va.
March 11-15, 2026TBDNeutralTBDPittsburgh, Pa.