SLU’s Kobe Johnson dribbles past VCU’s Phillip Russell during Tuesday’s NCAA men’s basketball game at Chaifetz Arena. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
| NCAA Men’s Basketball | 1 | 2 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| VCU (16-5, 6-2) | 31 | 38 | 69 |
| SLU (13-8, 6-2) | 28 | 50 | 78 |
Cedric Williams
Senior Editor
ST. LOUIS, MO — After a rough shooting first half for both teams led to a three-point halftime deficit, the Saint Louis University men’s basketball team got hot in the second half and scored 50 points on its way to an impressive 78-69 win over VCU, in an Atlantic 10 Conference game at Chaifetz Arena.
Saint Louis shot 50 percent (10-of-20) in the second half, which included four three-pointers, and made 26-of-31 free throws as it stormed past the visiting Rams.
Fifth-year senior Gibson Jimerson scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Billikens, who are now 13-8 on the season and 6-2 in Atlantic 10 league play. Three other SLU players scored in double figures, including Kobe Johnson, who had 19 points, Robbie Avila, who poured in 14 points, and Isaiah Swope, who added 10 points.
VCU, which came into the night on a six-game winning streak, also had four players reach double figures in scoring, led by Phillip Russell and Zeb Jackson, who both scored 15 points.
Gibson Jimerson scored 26 points to lead SLU to a win over VCU, Tuesday night at Chaifetz Arena. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
The heated A-10 contest featured four ties and 13 lead changes, most of which occurred in the first half when the Billikens and Rams went back-and-forth trading baskets.
VCU led 31-28 at halftime and pushed its lead to five points by scoring the first basket of the second half. Saint Louis rallied to tie and the teams traded buckets and the lead several times again through the first 11 minutes of the second half.
The Rams used a quick 7-0 spurt to take a 51-49 lead with 9:02 remaining, but the Billikens responded almost immediately, when Jimerson completed a three-point play on SLU’s next possession that sparked a 20-8 run over the next seven minutes that gave Saint Louis a 69-59 lead with just under two minutes left in the game.
VCU drew to within six points twice, the second time 71-65 with 49 seconds to play. But two free throws apiece from Jimerson and Swope on SLU’s next two possessions pushed the margin back to 10 and secured a Billiken victory.
SLU’s Robbie Avila looks for someone to pass to during Tuesday’s NCAA men’s basketball game against VCU. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
The game was delayed in the final minute when a brawl in the stands behind the VCU bench held up action on the court for 10 minutes. No players or coaches were involved, but the fight happened just a few rows behind the VCU bench and security needed all the extra space it could get to break up the melee.
Eventually, the rowdy fans were escorted out and the game resumed, with SLU clinching its 11th home win of the season.
The Billikens will be back in action again at Chaifetz, when they’ll host Dayton in an A-10 league game on Friday. Tip off is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be televised live on ESPN2.
VCU 69
| ## | Player | GS | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | ORB-DRB | REB | PF | A | TO | BLK | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Russell,Phillip | * | 32 | 5-12 | 1-7 | 4-5 | 0-0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| 11 | Shulga,Max | * | 34 | 2-12 | 1-5 | 9-10 | 2-3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| 22 | Bamisile,Joe | * | 26 | 5-17 | 0-5 | 1-2 | 1-5 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 11 |
| 04 | Clark,Jack | * | 31 | 2-8 | 0-5 | 2-2 | 3-6 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| 09 | Bamgboye,Luke | * | 22 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 4-0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 02 | Jackson,Zeb | 18 | 4-8 | 3-6 | 4-4 | 0-1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | |
| 21 | Fermin,Christian | 16 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 1-3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 00 | Jennings,Brandon | 13 | 1-3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 05 | Billups III,Alphonzo | 1 | 1-2 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 08 | Belle,Michael | 7 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 06 | Hill Jr.,Terrence | 0+ | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| TM | TEAM | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2-0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals | – | 200 | 22-67 | 5-31 | 20-26 | 15-21 | 36 | 27 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 69 |
Saint Louis 78
| ## | Player | GS | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | ORB-DRB | REB | PF | A | TO | BLK | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Jimerson, Gibson | * | 39 | 8-16 | 3-7 | 7-10 | 0-5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 26 |
| 08 | Johnson, Kobe | * | 34 | 6-10 | 2-5 | 5-6 | 0-6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 19 |
| 21 | Avila, Robbie | * | 35 | 3-5 | 0-0 | 8-8 | 0-7 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 01 | Swope, Isaiah | * | 38 | 2-6 | 1-5 | 5-7 | 0-2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 06 | Anya, Kalu | * | 29 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 3-7 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 33 | Warlick, Dylan | 12 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 5-6 | 1-2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
| 04 | McCottry, Amari | 10 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 35 | Pikaar, Max | 3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| TM | TEAM | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals | – | 200 | 21-43 | 6-18 | 30-39 | 4-33 | 37 | 20 | 14 | 17 | 3 | 5 | 78 |
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 | W 77-71 (2-1) |
| November 22, 2024 (Friday) | 9:30 pm | Neutral | Wichita State | Kansas City, Mo. (T-Mobile Center) | L 88-63 (2-2) |
| November 25, 2024 (Monday) | 7 pm | Home | Quinnipiac | Chaifetz Arena | W 81-67 (3-2) |
| November 27, 2024 (Wednesday) | 7 pm | Home | UMass Lowell | Chaifetz Arena | W 93-90 (4-2) |
| December 2, 2024 (Monday) | 7 pm | Home | Jackson State | Chaifetz Arena | W 74-66 (5-2) |
| December 5, 2024 (Thursday) | 9 pm | Away | San Francisco | San Francisco, Calif. (War Memorial) | L 78-61 (5-3) |
| December 8, 2024 (Sunday) | 2 pm | Home | Chicago State | Chaifetz Arena | W 85-62 (6-3) |
| December 15, 2024 (Sunday) | 4 pm | Away | Illinois State | Normal, Ill. (CEFCU Arena) | L 81-77 (6-4) |
| December 18, 2024 (Wednesday) | 7 pm | Home | Wofford | Chaifetz Arena | L 74-71 (6-5) |
| December 22, 2024 (Sunday) | 3 p.m. | Away | Grand Canyon | Phoenix, Ariz. (Global Credit Union Arena) | L73-72 (6-6) |
| December 28, 2024 (Saturday) | 7 pm | Home | William Woods | Chaifetz Arena | W 78-57 (7-6) |
| December 31, 2024 (Tuesday) | 1 pm | Away | Fordham | New York, N.Y. (Rose Hill Gym) | W 88-63 (8-6) |
| January 3, 2025 (Friday) | 8 pm | Home | Saint Joseph’s | Chaifetz Arena | W 73-57 (9-6) |
| January 8, 2025 (Wednesday) | 7 pm | Home | St. Bonaventure | Chaifetz Arena | W 73-68 (10-6) |
| January 14, 2025 (Tuesday) | 6 pm | Away | VCU | Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center) | L 78-62 (10-7) |
| January 18, 2025 (Saturday) | 1:30 pm | Away | Richmond | Richmond, Va. (Robins Center) | W 63-59 (11-7) |
| January 22, 2025 (Wednesday) | 7 pm | Home | La Salle | Chaifetz Arena | W 64-52 (12-7) |
| January 25, 2025 (Saturday) | 1 pm | Away | George Washington | Washington, D.C (Smith Center) | L 67-61 (12-8) |
| January 28, 2025 (Tuesday) | 7 pm | Home | VCU | Chaifetz Arena | W 78-69 (13-8) |
| 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) |