After winning its first two road games of the season last week, the Saint Louis University men”s basketball team deserved its week off. But the Billikens are sent to return to the friendly confines of the Savvis Center this Saturday as they try to improve upon a five-game conference winning streak against Tulane at 1:10 p.m.
Several Conference USA stalwarts have tried to slay the Billikens, but a stifling defense and some clutch-shooting down the stretch have made Saint Louis the hottest team in the league. The Green Wave (13-12, 6-6) is next in line to try and cool off the Billikens (12-12, 6-7).
The Billikens have won the last two games against Tulane at the Savvis. The teams split the series last year when SLU defeated the Green Wave at home, but was defeated by the Wave in the first round of the C-USA Tournament.
Last week, senior guard Marque Perry took the game into his own hands against DePaul, propelling SLU from a 54-48 deficit with just over six minutes to play in the game. His 15-foot jumper tied the game with less than two minutes left.
With time running out, Perry penetrated DePaul”s defense, leaned away from the basket and drained the game-winner with two seconds left on the clock. A steal on the inbounds play as time expired capped yet a brilliant game for Perry and another gut-wrenching victory for SLU.
‘I really don”t understand how we won the game, because DePaul was so difficult to stop,’ said Soderberg in a press release. ‘I can”t say enough about Marque Perry. He”s won games for us in every imaginable way.’
With about four minutes left, Drew Diener nailed a three-pointer and the Billikens trailed 56-55 with 4:17 left. But baskets from Drake Diener and Sam Hoskin gave DePaul a five-point lead with just over three minutes remaining. Chris Sloan continued his hot-streak by connecting on a layup. On the next possession, Sloan was fouled on his way to the basket and left the game with a cramp. Diener came into the game for Sloan and made one of two free throws to give the Billikens a two-point advantage.
A Chris Braun steal gave the Bills possession with under two minutes remaining, setting the stage for Perry”s game-ending heroics. Perry drained a 12-footer tying the game at 60 with 1:45 on the clock.
DePaul failed to score on the next possession and Josh Fisher was fouled. He missed both free-throws and DePaul regained the ball. Fisher fouled the Blue Demons” Hoskin. Hoskin, an efficient free throw shooter, missed his first chance.
After making the second, the Bills found themselves down by one with little time remaining. That is when Perry picked up the rolling inbounds pass and drove the length of the court for his game-winning layup.
A 10-point showing by Diener supported Perry”s game-high 19 points. Sloan, Braun and Izik Ohanon each added six points for the Billikens” cause. The Bills shot 51.1 percent from the floor, but struggled from the free-throw line shooting 56.3 percent. The Bills only committed eight turnovers while recording 17 assists. Freshman guard Anthony Drejaj led SLU in rebounding with seven boards. He and Fisher led the team in steals with four each.
The Bills close their home schedule against Charlotte on Wednesday, March 5, at 7:10 p.m. The Billikens finish the regular season at East Carolina on Saturday, March 8.
As the Bills prepare for another conference battle, thoughts of their recent success have been hard to ignore, especially when the recognition keeps pouring in. Perry was selected Conference USA Co-Player of the Week, an honor he shares with Marquette”s Dwyane Wade. This marks the second time this season Perry has been awarded this honor. He is the first Billiken to receive C-USA”s weekly award twice since Larry Hughes was honored three times during the 1997-98 season.
In his last two games, Perry has averaged 19.5 points and 5 rebounds per game. His 20-point performance in a win against Cincinnati was complemented by his 19 points at DePaul.
