SAINT LOUIS, Mo. - Junior Scott Spencer and freshman Ayinde Hikim each posted 17 points against Saint Louis on Saturday, but the Billikens used a 26-3 run midway through the first half to pull away from the La Salle University men's basketball team and claim an 84-69 win. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Back-to-back three-pointers by senior Saul Phiri opened the scoring in the contest and gave La Salle an early 6-0 advantage, forcing Saint Louis to call timeout.
• The Explorers continued to lead through the first eight minutes of the game, with a three from junior David Beatty putting the visitors in front, 17-14.
• Saint Louis took its first lead with 11:13 on the clock, as Jordan Goodwin sparked an extended 26-3 run that turned a three-point deficit into a 40-20 cushion.
• After hitting three of its first five three pointers, La Salle struggled down the stretch of the opening 20 minutes, converting one of its final six shots from downtown.
• Overall, SLU held a 23-11 advantage in the rebounding battle through the first half, with nine offensive boards leading to 15 second-chance points.
• Trailing 45-24 to start the second half, La Salle battled back and cut the margin to 11 on two separate occasions but couldn't manage to pull to within single digits the rest of the way.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Hikim set a new career mark in scoring, bettering his prior high of 14 points set against Penn earlier this season.
• Spencer's point total matched his personal best which was posted against Wagner this year.
• SLU outrebounded the Explorers, 39-25, with Goodwin (18 pts., 11 rebs.) and Hasahn French (9 pts., 10 rebs.) each posting double-figure outputs.

UP NEXT

• La Salle returns to Tom Gola Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 19 for a matchup with Fordham.
• The game, which will tipoff at 8:00 p.m., will be the second half of a basketball doubleheader with the women's team.