Saint Louis Billikens Defeat Virginia Commonwealth Rams 88-75 Behind Strong Second-Half Performance

The Saint Louis Billikens, led by their stifling defense, handed the Virginia Commonwealth Rams a 13-point loss, 88-75, at the Chaifetz Arena. The Billikens' victory marked their 25th win of the season, improving their record to 25-2. The Rams, on the other hand, fell to 21-7. The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with VCU taking a 42-33 lead into the break. However, the Billikens' defense clamped down in the second half, holding the Rams to just 33 points on 12-30 shooting. Saint Louis outscored VCU 55-33 in the second half, led by Kellen Thames' 16 points. The Billikens' 88 points marked their 12th game this season with 80 or more points, and their 25th win of the season has them sitting at a 92.6% win percentage.

The Billikens' recent form has been impressive, with an average of 87.4 points per game over their last 5 games, while allowing just 70.2 points per game. This 17.2-point average margin of victory has been a key factor in their success, with 4 wins in their last 5 games. The lone loss came at the hands of Rhode Island, where they fell 76-81. In contrast, VCU had been on a 5-game winning streak, averaging 81.2 points per game while allowing 68.4 points per game, outscoring their opponents by an average of 12.8 points. However, their 75 points against Saint Louis marked their lowest total in 6 games, and their 33 second-half points were their lowest in any half this season. The Billikens' ability to shut down the Rams' offense in the second half was the deciding factor, as they held VCU to just 1-7 shooting from three-point range.

The Billikens' Kellen Thames was the star of the show, hitting 7-12 shots from the field, including 2-4 from three-point range. Thames' 16 points were a team-high, and his ability to score from both inside and outside the arc was a key factor in the Billikens' victory. Amari McCottry and Ishan Sharma also chipped in with 13 points each, with McCottry adding 5 rebounds to his total. For VCU, Lazar Djokovic led the way with 19 points and 7 rebounds, while Brandon Jennings added 18 points and 7 rebounds of his own. However, the Rams' offense was unable to overcome the Billikens' stifling defense, as they shot just 40.4% from the field and 25% from three-point range. The Billikens' defense held the Rams to just 12-30 shooting in the second half, and their 12-15 shooting from the free-throw line helped to seal the victory.

The CHD Scout predicted a Saint Louis victory by 11 points, and while the final margin was 2 points higher, the prediction was spot on.

The scout's prediction was correct due to the Billikens' ability to shut down the Rams' offense in the second half. The Billikens' defense has been their strength all season, and their ability to hold VCU to just 33 points in the second half was the deciding factor. The scout's model likely took into account the Billikens' recent form, as well as their dominance at home, where they have a 14-1 record this season. The model also likely accounted for VCU's struggles on the road, where they have a 7-5 record this season. The Billikens' 55 points in the second half marked their highest total in any half this season, and their 88 points marked their 5th highest total of the season.

The win for Saint Louis has real consequences for their tournament resume, as they look to lock up a high seed in the NCAA tournament. With a 25-2 record and a NET ranking of 23, the Billikens are in a strong position to earn a top-4 seed. Their Quad 2 win over VCU marks their 10th Quad 1 or Quad 2 win of the season, and their 14-1 record at home has been a key factor in their success. The Billikens' strength of schedule has been a topic of discussion all season, but their win over VCU helps to alleviate some of those concerns. The Billikens have now won 14 of their last 15 games, with the lone loss coming at the hands of Rhode Island. Their 87.4 points per game over their last 5 games marks their highest average over any 5-game stretch this season.

The loss for VCU, on the other hand, is a setback for their tournament hopes. With a 21-7 record and a NET ranking of 45, the Rams are still in a strong position to earn an at-large bid. However, their Quad 1 loss to Saint Louis marks their 4th Quad 1 loss of the season, and their 7-5 record on the road is a concern. The Rams' 75 points against Saint Louis marked their lowest total in 6 games, and their 33 second-half points were their lowest in any half this season. The Rams must regroup and refocus as they head into the final stretch of the season, with 3 of their last 4 games coming against Quad 1 or Quad 2 opponents. The Rams' 81.2 points per game over their last 5 games marks their highest average over any 5-game stretch this season, but their inability to score in the second half against Saint Louis was a major concern.

The Billikens' win over VCU marks their 5th straight win, and their 25-2 record has them sitting atop the Atlantic 10 standings. The Billikens' 87.4 points per game over their last 5 games marks their highest average over any 5-game stretch this season, and their 17.2-point average margin of victory has been a key factor in their success. The Billikens' ability to shut down the Rams' offense in the second half was the deciding factor, as they held VCU to just 12-30 shooting. The Billikens' 88 points marked their 12th game this season with 80 or more points, and their 25th win of the season has them sitting at a 92.6% win percentage. The Billikens' 14-1 record at home has been a key factor in their success, and their 10-1 record in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games has them in a strong position to earn a high seed in the NCAA tournament.

The Rams, on the other hand, must regroup and refocus as they head into the final stretch of the season. Their 21-7 record and NET ranking of 45 have them in a strong position to earn an at-large bid, but their 4 Quad 1 losses and 7-5 record on the road are concerns. The Rams' 81.2 points per game over their last 5 games marks their highest average over any 5-game stretch this season, but their inability to score in the second half against Saint Louis was a major concern. The Rams must find a way to overcome their struggles on the road and against Quad 1 opponents if they hope to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. The Rams' 75 points against Saint Louis marked their lowest total in 6 games, and their 33 second-half points were their lowest in any half this season. The Rams' 12.8-point average margin of victory over their last 5 games marks their highest average over any 5-game stretch this season, but their loss to Saint Louis was a setback for their tournament hopes.

HEADLINE: Saint Louis Billikens Defeat Virginia Commonwealth Rams 88-75 Behind Strong Second-Half Performance SUBHEADLINE: The Billikens' 25th win of the season has them sitting at a 92.6% win percentage, with a 14-1 record at home and a 10-1 record in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games.