For the second consecutive week, No. 25 Saint Louis lost a road game.
The Billikens will look to wrap up the home portion of their schedule with an unblemished record when they host Loyola Chicago in an Atlantic 10 Conference game on Wednesday.
Loyola (7-22, 3-13) snapped a four-game slide with a 69-66 home win over Richmond on Saturday. In a season to forget, the Ramblers built a 36-29 halftime lead and hung on for the win.
After a torrid start to the season that included an 18-game winning streak, Saint Louis is just 2-2 in its past four games. Rhode Island halted the streak with an 81-76 home win over the Billikens on Feb. 17. A week later it was Dayton’s turn to take down Saint Louis (26-3, 14-2) when it topped the Billikens 77-62 last Tuesday.
However, both losses were followed up by wins. The latest was a 91-76 win in which Saint Louis erased a 41-39 halftime deficit against Duquesne to remain 18-0 at home. Robbie Avila scored 23 points, 21 which came in the second half. In a stretch early on the half, Avila scored 15 consecutive points for the Billikens. He added seven rebounds, seven assists and hit five 3-pointers to tie his career high.
Quentin Jones added 17 points, Trey Green tallied 14 points and Paul Otieno matched his season high when he chipped in 13 points off the bench.
It marked the 100th career win for Avila, the Billikens leading scorer (13.0 points per game). That total includes wins earned in his first two seasons at Indiana State.
“He’s awesome, he’s incredible. What he’s done over four years is just remarkable — 100 wins in less than four years of basketball,” Saint Louis coach Josh Schertz said of the 6-foot-10 center. “He’s helped change the trajectory of two different programs. That’s the signature of individual greatness in a team sport, the ability to win and lift your teammates. People play better when they play with you.”
Even though Otieno has amassed humble stats this year — three starts, 15.7 minutes per game, 5.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game — Schertz played him a season-high 29 minutes for the energy that he infused into the Billikens’ lineup.
“At the end of the day (Otieno) starting the second half gave us the best chance to win,” Schertz said. “It doesn’t have any bearing on Wednesday’s game, but in a one-game window that was my job, to make the decisions that give us the best chance to win. Paul was plus-24 when he was out there. He was awesome and made plays on both ends of the floor.”
Against the Spiders, Miles Rubin led Loyola with 19 points. While Caleb Reese only managed two points, three rebounds and two assists, Ramblers coach Drew Valentine singled out the effort of the senior guard. The Ramblers have played the past two games without starting point guard Justin Moore.
“We’re without our starting point guard and Kayde (Dotson) got into foul trouble,” Valentine said. “Reese came in and was so steady. He knocked down free throws at the end. What an amazing career and amazing story that he’s having.”
