There’s just something the Saint Louis University men’s basketball team doesn’t get about the first half of a game
Try as they might, the team never connects during the first twenty minutes of play. Last night’s game against Charlotte wasn’t spectacular like the weekend win over Richmond Sunday that went to triple overtime; but it was remarkable in that the Bills managed a win even after going down by ten in the first half – a period that saw Kevin Lisch go scoreless.
“It’s almost like I have to yell at them at the beginning of the game, at a time out, at the half,” Head Coach Rick Majerus said. “But I thought our guys did a good job defending [Charlotte]. They just don’t understand time and score. But, I don’t want to get these guys tentative, because I’ve gotten them there before.”
Lisch would overcome his first half drought to score a team-high 18 in the second half as the Bills (15-9, 6-4) beat the Charlotte 49ers 69-61 at the Chaifetz Arena. Just over 7,100 fans attended; after 14 games at Chaifetz, over 100,000 have watched SLU play.
The Billikens also got 14 points from freshman Kwamain Mitchell and 13 from senior Tommie Liddell III. Charlie Coley led Charlotte (8-15, 2-7) with 18 points and eight rebounds. Lamont Mack added 16 points.
Charlotte, which is averaging 69.3 points per game, jumped out to a quick lead after a three-point shot from Ian Andersen. The 49s went on a 6-0 run, going up by ten, before Kyle Cassity would answer the run with a three-pointer of his own for the Bills. SLU shot a poor 20 percent in the first nine minutes.
In the last five home wins, SLU has been behind at the half. Majerus said he is “aware of it and not happy about it.”
It was a slow battle back for the Billikens. With just over 5:00 left in the half, and Charlotte up 7, Mitchell put in seven of eight free throws to keep the Bills close. Overall, the team made 10 of 12 from the line in the half. Willie Reed put in two from the field, and the Bills would go into the locker room down by just one.
Charlotte would make a critical mistake in the beginning of the second half-they let Lisch got hot. And it wasn’t just smoldering hot – Lisch was on fire.
The senior guard hit five straight baskets, including four consecutive three-pointers, to put SLU up by 14. A Reed dunk capped off the run. Encouraged by Barry Eberhardt, the crowd gave Lisch a standing ovation following Reed’s bucket.
“Lisch is a great athlete and a great student,” Majerus said. “He’s the kind of guy I want taking those shots. He made a great read from the side to make a critical basket-that was a big three for us. He’s our best scorer, and our best defender. He really is an all-American athlete.”
It was now SLU’s turn to let their guard down. After going up by as much as 16 points, the lead slowly trickled away. The 49ers came to within 7 with just over 1:30 left in the game. Luckily, the dam didn’t burst. Foul shots by Lisch sealed the victory for the Bills. They are now 13-2 at Chaifetz Arena.
