Billikens Dominate Flyers in Commanding Victory
In a commanding performance, the 21st-ranked Saint Louis Billikens secured a decisive 102-71 victory over the Dayton Flyers on Friday night. Trey Green shined with a personal best of seven 3-pointers, contributing 23 points to the team’s impressive offensive display. Ishan Sharma also added significantly to the score with 18 points, including six 3-pointers, while Quentin Jones matched Sharma’s total, rounding out a strong trio for Saint Louis (21-1, 9-0 Atlantic 10).
Game Highlights
The game showcased Saint Louis’ dominant shooting, particularly from beyond the arc, where they converted 15 of their first 22 attempts. Their victory marked the 15th consecutive win for the Billikens, alongside an impressive streak of 18 home wins at Chaifetz Arena.
Dayton (14-8, 5-4) struggled to find their rhythm, with De’Shayne Montgomery and Amael L’Etang leading their efforts with 23 and 12 points, respectively. This defeat also signifies the Flyers’ fourth consecutive loss, a rarity for them, as they hadn’t experienced such a streak since January 2014.
First Half Dominance
The Billikens dominated the first half with an astounding shooting percentage of 63%, knocking down 7 of 11 shots from 3-point range. They established an early lead, scoring the first eight points of the game, and soon built an advantage of 24 points in the first half. A notable moment occurred when Jones hit a 3-pointer to stretch the lead to 42-18, capping a run in which Dayton went scoreless for over four minutes.
Second Half Response
After halftime, Dayton attempted a comeback with a 12-5 run, briefly closing the gap to 51-41, thanks to Bryce Heard’s jumper. However, the Billikens quickly responded with a 12-0 run, further solidifying their lead after back-to-back 3-pointers from Green and Sharma. Green has been particularly hot, making 22 of 37 attempts from three-point range in the last four games, showcasing his remarkable shooting form.
Final Statistics
As the game concluded, Saint Louis finished with a remarkable 17 out of 28 from three-point territory while also holding a rebounding edge of 30-23 and limiting Dayton to just 35% from beyond the arc.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Saint Louis will face Davidson in their next matchup on Tuesday, while Dayton will host St. Bonaventure on the same night, both teams aiming to shift the momentum in their favor.
