Feb. 17, 2007

Box Score

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Kevin Lisch scored 24 points and Saint Louis (16-10, 66-6)ended the game with a 14-2 run to defeat La Salle (10-16, 3-10) 59-55 Saturday night at the ScottTrade Center.

The Explorers built a`game-high eight point lead when Sherman Diaz hit a three-pointer with 7.42 to play to make the score 53-45 but it would turn out to be the team's final field goal of the night.

The Explorers, who played much of the game with out its two leaders scorers - Darnell Harris and Rodney Green who were hampered by foul trouble - had the ball after a Luke Meyer miss with 9.06 to play but Brian Grimes' pass was too much to handle for Green who lost it out of bounds.  The turnover ignited the decisive SLU run.

Lisch scored 20 of his points in the second half and Saint Louis (16-10, 6-6 Atlantic 10) also got 10 points from Tommie Liddell to snap a two-game conference losing streak. The Explorers (10-17, 3-10) claimed an eight-point lead with just under eight minutes left in the game before Lisch began the Saint Louis run that ended the game with a traditional 3-point play.

He scored with six minutes remaining and the Billikens chipped away at the lead until Ian Vouyoukas gave Saint Louis the lead for good on a layin with about two minutes left.

Mike St. John scored 11 points to lead La Salle, who had nine players score. The Explorers have only one road victory in conference play.

The teams played a rugged first half that ended in a 23-23 tie.

The Explorers still need one more win for the chance to move into 12th place in the A-10 and gain entry to the conference tournament in Atlantic City.  They will have a week off before hosting George Washington on Saturday afternoon at 12:00 PM.