The Saint Louis University men’s basketball team is learning the hard way that it actually is not always sunny in Philadelphia. SLU had to fight not only youth on the road, but also the weather. The Atlantic coast received over two feet of snow last weekend. But while the temperatures fell outside, the Billikens got hot against La Salle University and Saint Joseph’s University to take control of two crucial contests last week on the road.
SLU fought a resurgent Explorers squad 68-65 on Saturday, Feb. 6 and on Tuesday, Feb. 9, and completed the Philly sweep by outlasting the Hawks, 56-52. The pair of wins pushes SLU to 15-8 overall, 6-3 in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The mark in league play is the best since the 1999-2000 team started Conference USA play with a 6-3 slate.
As has become the norm for the Billikens when playing on the road, the team got off to an icy start in both halves against La Salle. Down by as much as 11 in the first half, SLU slowly plowed its way back into the game. Cody Ellis got things going with a three-point basket followed by a Willie Reed layup to come within five. Ellis would put the Bills on top and give them a two-point lead going into the half.
In the second half, the Explorers went on a 10-2 run only to watch the Billikens go on a 13-3 spurt of their own. Kwamain Mitchell sank four free-throws in the last minute to grab a victory for the Billikens. Mitchell led the team with 25 points.
Against Saint Joe’s, with another winter storm on Philly’s doorstep, it was the duo from Australia that lit up the net for SLU. Again, the Billikens played catch-up; the Hawks scored the first five and then went on a late seven-point run in the first half to lead SLU by six at half. The Bills rumbled back to life in the second half, putting up nine straight. A Kyle Cassity three-pointer gave SLU its first lead. Christian Salecich hit two free throws with 33.4 seconds of play to seal the victory.
Ellis led SLU with 13 points, and Salecich added 11. Free-throw shooting was again horrendous; SLU hit just 37.5% of its shots from the charity stripe.
The team now has to hope for fairer climates, both on the court and in the atmosphere. SLU is currently stuck in Philadelphia as all flights in and out have been canceled because of a major winter storm. The Billikens hope to be back in St. Louis by Friday, where a Saturday tilt against the Dayton Fliers awaits them.
