SLU’s Robbie Avila looks for someone to pass to during the Billikens’ basketball game against SEMO on Monday. (Photo: Ellie Parker)

NCAA Men’s Basketball12Final
SEMO (0-1)353267
SLU (1-0)444892

ST. LOUIS, MO — After beginning with a slow start, the Saint Louis University men’s basketball team went on a 14-2 run midway through the first half to grab the lead, then added a 16-2 spurt in the second half to extend its edge on the way to a 92-67 win over Southeast Missouri State, Monday night at Chaifetz Arena.

Five Billikens scored in double figures, led by returning senior Robbie Avila and new transfer Dion Brown, who posted their 11th and 10th career double-doubles, respectively. Avila had a game-high 18 points, Brown (on five-of-seven shooting) scored 11, and both had 11 rebounds each.

Amari McCottry (7-of-8 FG) tossed in 16 points, Kellen Thames tallied 12, and Quentin Jones added 10 for Saint Louis, which shot 49.3 percent (33-of-67) from the floor and 81 percent (17-of-21) from the foul line.

Jones (seven) and Brady Dunlap (six) also contributed significantly on the glass as the Billikens outrebounded the Redhawks 54-29. Saint Louis also earned big advantages in points in the paint (48-28), fast-break points (20-8) and bench points (28-12).

SLU held SEMO to 35.5 percent shooting overall and 25 percent from the arc.

SLU’s Kellen Thames had 12 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals in the Billikens’ win over SEMO, Monday night. (Photo: Cedric Williams)

Leading 48-41 with less than three minutes gone in the second half, Saint Louis began its 16-2 spurt with a bucket by Jones, and Avila followed with one of his game-high three 3-pointers.

A SEMO foul was ruled a flagrant-1, leading to a five-point possession consisting of two Thames free throws and Green’s triple.

Jones’ three-point play and another Green 3-pointer capped the run and put the Bills on top 64-43 with 11:47 remaining. SEMO drew no closer than 16 points the rest of the way.

There were five lead changes in the first half. SEMO knocked down a 3-pointer on its second possession and remained in front until Thames’ fast-break layup gave SLU a 15-14 edge.

The Billikens trailed 22-21 with 8:41 left, but a 10-0 run in a span of less than two minutes turned the tables. Saint Louis led 44-33 after Avila connected from 3-point range and settled for a 44-35 halftime advantage.

SLU newcomer Dion Brown brings the ball upcourt during Monday’s men’s basketball game at Chaifetz Arena against SEMO. (Photo: Ellie Parker)

Saint Louis will be home again on Thursday, when it will host Chicago State in another game at Chaifetz Arena. That contest will tip off at 7 p.m. as part of a hoops doubleheader, where the SLU women’s team will host Middle Tennessee State at 4 p.m.

SEMO 67

##PlayerGSMINFG3PTFTORB-DRBREBPFATOBLKSTLPTS
02Ward,BJ*325-142-44-61-122310116
15Terry,Brendan*255-130-13-41-122020213
44Stacker,Braxton*304-81-33-30-221021312
10Almodovar,Luke*232-71-43-62-24301008
04Cole Jr.,Troy*131-41-42-20-22410005
55Bell,Marqueas224-90-12-20-441100010
30Lowndes,Elliot121-10-00-10-22300102
01Farmer,PJ100-20-21-20-00210001
07Blocker,Landren240-40-10-02-57112100
03Sadler,Trace30-00-00-00-00000000
18Idada,David30-00-00-00-22001000
25Reynolds,Jay30-00-00-00-00000000
TMTEAM00-00-00-01-12000000
Totals–20022-625-2018-267-222919793667

SLU 92

##PlayerGSMINFG3PTFTORB-DRBREBPFATOBLKSTLPTS
21Avila, Robbie*296-133-73-63-8111011018
04McCottry, Amari*187-80-02-21-124140016
13Brown, Dion*215-71-10-03-8112330111
01Jones, Quentin*264-71-21-11-674130110
03Green, Trey*203-102-71-11-34111009
00Thames, Kellen205-80-12-21-343310312
09Sharma, Ishan202-41-32-21-23110017
25Otieno, Paul131-21-14-41-12500007
11Dunlap, Brady220-30-32-31-56301002
15Kerr, Jax70-30-20-01-01000000
24Hutson, Cam40-20-20-00-11000000
TMTEAM00-00-00-00-22001000
Totals–20033-679-2917-2114-40542410151692

2025-26 SLU BILLIKENS MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

DateTimeAtOpponentLocationTVResults
November 3, 2025 (Monday)7 pmHomeSEMOChaifetz ArenaW, 92-67 (1-0)
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.