One of the main components to the great success that Saint Louis has had all season has been the consistent excellence on the defensive end of the court. Unfortunately for the Billikens, they had no answer for the talented Xavier guards in the semifinal matchup of the Atlantic 10 Tournament, as the Musketeers delivered an impressive offensive performance in the 71-64 win. Xavier will face St. Bonaventure in the finals, with a guaranteed spot in the NCAA Tournament on the line.
Brian Conklin led the way for Saint Louis in the loss, scoring a team-high 14 points on 4/9 shooting from the field. Dwayne Evans and Jordair Jett each chipped in 11 points, while Kwamain Mitchell finished with 10 points and a team-high nine assists.
The Billikens had no answer for the Xavier offense, which executed at a high level throughout the game. The Musketeers shot 53.3% from the field as team, with Tu Holloway netting a game-high 21 points. Dezmine Wells added 18 points on 6/8 shooting from the field, while Mark Lyons scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds.
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