Busting Brackets
Fansided

Saint Louis Basketball: 3 takeaways from dominant win over SIUE

By Caleb Hightower

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 17: Javon Bess #3 and head coach Travis Ford of the Saint Louis Billikens celebrate their win against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies after the championship game of the Atlantic 10 2019 tournament at the Barclays Center on March 17, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Saint Louis Billikens defeated the St. Bonaventure Bonnies 55-53. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 17: Javon Bess #3 and head coach Travis Ford of the Saint Louis Billikens celebrate their win against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies after the championship game of the Atlantic 10 2019 tournament at the Barclays Center on March 17, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Saint Louis Billikens defeated the St. Bonaventure Bonnies 55-53. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
Saint Louis Basketball
Saint Louis Basketball Travis Ford (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Saint Louis Basketball opened the 2020-21 season with an impressive 89-52 victory over SIU-Edwardsville.

Saint Louis Basketball came out ready to play against SIUE on Wednesday night, jumping out to an early 16-4 lead, and forcing the Cougars to burn their first timeout, just 3 minutes and 48 seconds into the game. For a good portion of the first half, the Billikens were able to enjoy a 20+ point lead and were even able to stretch the lead to 30 at the conclusion of the first half (thanks to Terrence Hargrove Jr’s three-point basket).

Things really didn’t change in the second half, as the Billikens picked up right where they left off, and went on a quick 9-0 run, to extend the lead to 39. I will give the Cougars credit for competing hard despite being overmatched, but to be honest, it was clear from the jump, that they had no shot of hanging with the Billikens for 40 minutes.

As the second half progressed, Saint Louis continued to impose their will on both ends of the floor, and frustrate SIUE at all times. While the Cougars managed to score 34 points in the second half (after scoring just 18 in the first), they certainly didn’t instill any fear into the Billikens at any point.

And if you really think about it, it’s going to be difficult for them to instill fear into their next opponent (LSU), considering the fact that the Cougars shot 18.2% from downtown, committed 22 fouls, and turned the ball over 25 times in their season opener.

Offensively, Javonte Perkins was the man for the Billikens all night long, as he finished with 22 points on 72.7% shooting, but he wasn’t the only player that decided to get in on the action. Jordan Goodwin (12 points), Gibson Jimerson (11 points), Demarius Jacobs (9 points), Marten Linssen (11 points), and Terrence Hargrove Jr. (11 points), all did their part to help put the game out of reach relatively early.

There was a lot to like about Saint Louis’s overall performance against SIUE, such as the Billikens offensive fluidity, despite being without Hasahn French (who was out with a concussion), but in this article, I will be providing my three main takeaways from the Billikens convincing 89-52 victory.

Home/Atlantic 10