It was a valiant effort, but the Billiken basketball team came up four points short against the Michigan State Spartans, 65-61. The Bills concluded their season in the third round of the NCAA tournament after defeating Memphis the previous Friday.
The team was led by Kwamain Mitchell who scored 13 points, Brian Conklin who scored 11 points, and Jordair Jett who scored 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. This game was the final career game for Conklin and Kyle Cassity.
“I’m just very emotional for me with Kyle and Brian. You get attached to kids. I’ll see them again, not in the capacity that they’re in now,” Head Coach Rick Majerus said.
The Bills were down early 5-0 early, but after the two timeouts, the Bills gained their first lead on a Cory Remekun layup, 10-9. The Bills then extended the lead, 15-11, on a rare three point basket by Jett.
However, the Spartans would respond going on an 11-0 run to take the lead back from the Bills, 22-15. Michigan State guards helped spark the run for the Spartan which allowed them to retake the lead for the Spartans. The Bills never regained the lead.
The Bills cut the deficit to 5 points after free throws by Mitchell and Conklin. The Bills were down five going into halftime, 26-21.
The Bills shot 23.8 percent, making just five field goals. Michigan State shot the ball much better than the Bills in the first half.
The second half was a tough battle. Mike McCall Jr., made a 3-pointer to cut Michigan State’s lead, but then the Spartans extended their lead into double-digits thanks to Draymond Green and Derrick Nix lead run, 45-34, with 11:42 left in the game.
After Michigan State extended the lead into double-digits, the Bills slowly began to whittle away at the Spartans double digit lead. About 8 minutes went by until a Mitchell layup cut the Spartan lead to two with 3:12 left in the game.
The Spartans extended the lead to 6 points, but Cody Ellis and McCall Jr. made two 3-pointers which cut the lead to three with 10 seconds left in the game, but SLU was forced to foul and Michigan State made one free throw which sealed the deal for the Spartans and them moving onto the Sweet 16.
Conklin and Cassity have played their final games as Billikens. Conklin was teary-eyed at the post-game conference when asked a question about his coach.
“It felt like this year it really came together, and Kyle and I, Kwamain, we were able to take what Coach taught us,” Conklin said. “He’s a great coach. I couldn’t imagine playing for a better coach, a better person. He doesn’t just teach you about basketball, it’s about life,”
The Bills will have four returning starters in Mitchell, McCall Jr., Dwayne Evans and Rob Loe. The team will also have key reverses returning in Jett and Ellis.
The biggest question mark for the team next year will be who will fill in Conklin’s position, both in production and leadership. Ellis and Remekun are likely replacement for Conklin.
Mitchell is a likely replacement in terms of leadership as a fifth-year senior and point guard.
“I’ve got to make sure everybody’s doing good in school, taking care of their bodies when they need it, and bring that leadership that Brian and Kyle gave me this year,” Mitchell said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The season is over. The clock has struck midnight for the Bills and their 2011-2012 basketball season.
