The Saint Louis Billikens put on a show at Chaifetz Arena, dismantling the Lindenwood Lions 109-66 in a non-conference matchup. Amari McCottry stole the spotlight, scoring 23 points and grabbing 9 rebounds to lead the Billikens to their 20th win of the season. The dominant performance was a reflection of Saint Louis' depth and talent, as they improved their record to 20-1.
From the opening tip, Saint Louis asserted its dominance, taking a 43-27 lead into halftime. The Billikens' offense was clicking on all cylinders, with McCottry and Dion Brown combining for 25 points in the first half. Brown finished with 17 points, while Ishan Sharma added 16 points to the mix. The trio's scoring prowess proved too much for the Lions to handle, as Saint Louis continued to pull away in the second half.
Lindenwood's Jadis Jones did his best to keep his team in the game, scoring 16 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. However, the Lions' offense struggled to find consistency, with Jones and Dontrez Williams being the only players to reach double figures. Despite their best efforts, Lindenwood was unable to mount a significant comeback, ultimately falling by 43 points.
The lopsided victory was not entirely unexpected, given the significant disparity in the teams' NET rankings. Saint Louis, ranked 18th, was facing off against a Lindenwood team ranked 236th. The Billikens' win was classified as a Quadrant 4 victory, which may not carry significant weight in terms of their tournament resume. On the other hand, the loss was a Quadrant 1 defeat for Lindenwood, which could have implications for their own postseason hopes.
As the season progresses, Saint Louis want to build on this dominant performance, using it as a springboard to bigger and better things. With their 20-1 record, the Billikens are firmly entrenched in the conversation for a high seed in the NCAA tournament. While this win may not have been a significant upset, it serves as a reminder of the team's depth and talent, making them a formidable opponent for any team they face.
The loss drops Lindenwood to 12-9 on the season, but the Lions can take solace in the fact that they faced one of the toughest teams in the country. As they move forward, they want to learn from this experience and use it to improve their own game. For now, however, the focus is on the Billikens, who continue to make a strong case for themselves as a tournament contender. With their impressive win over Lindenwood, Saint Louis has cemented their position as one of the top teams in the country, and their resume continues to grow stronger with each passing game.