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Saint Louis tried to make it hard down the stretch, but they left the University of Dayton Arena with a 67-59 in a game that tipped off at 11 AM local time in Dayton. The game featured the Atlantic 10's best defensive team versus the conference's best offensive squad.
For most of the game it looked like the patented Saint Louis squad that has only lost to Wisconsin and Wichita State. The Billikens shot out to a 34-25 lead at the break, in one of the Atlantic 10's toughest arenas to play in.
The air went out of UD arena a little when Matt Kavanaugh had an awkward sequence under the basket that resulted in a chest or head injury. Kavanaugh would walk off on his own power but wouldn't return to the game. A Jalen Robinson layup to close the half would give the Flyers fans something to cheer about and give them hope for the second half.
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In the second half it just felt like Dayton could not get over the six to eight point hump and draw even with the Billikens. I'm sure it had to be frustrating for Flyers' fans as Jim Crews' Saint Louis defense would stay stingy all day long.
Down the stretch Saint Louis would rely on Jordair Jett and Austin McBroom to handle the basketball and bring the game home. Jett, especially, would make some questionable decisions regarding the shot clock and passes that would give some life to the Flyers as they pulled within five points with just over 40 seconds left in the game.
Unfortunately, for Dayton fans, McBroom would close out the game making all six of his free throws in the final minute to ice things for the Billikens. McBroom would finish the game with 17 points.
Dwayne Evans lead the Billikens with the most quiet 22 points and 9 rebound afternoon that you'll ever see, going 9-for-11 from the floor. Jett finished the game with 12 points and 5 assists, but also had 4 turnovers.
Jordan Sibert would lead the Flyers with 15 points and Dyshawn Pierre was the only other Flyer in double-figures with 13 points.
Saint Louis will look to keep a 10 game win streak alive and move to 3-0 in A10 play when they host Saint Bonaventure on Wednesday. Archie Miller's Flyers will look for their first conference win at Fordham on the same evening.