Kevin Lisch was hoping he would not hear a whistle. The Billikens guard knocked the ball out of the hands of a Duquesne player with just seconds remaining to preserve a 78-77 win in the first round of the Atlantic 10 tournament.
"I knew there wasn’t much time left for him,’ Lisch said, "so I was trying to get up on him and keep him in front of me. I took a chance there by sticking my hand and getting the strip. It all worked out, so I can’t complain."
Lisch scored 18 points and dished out seven assists, but his quick hands had the biggest impact.
"He’s been known since he was a young kid for his quick hands,’ Billikens’ Head Coach Brad Soderberg said. "He’s a gutsier man than me because had he fouled, I think I’d still be wringing his neck. It was clean. He got his hand right on the ball and got us the win."
SLU committed 15 turnovers and allowed 17 offensive rebounds in the win. Those two statistics were offset by the Bills shooting an impressive 61 percent from the floor, including 71 percent in the second half.
The Billikens play UMass this afternoon in the second round. SLU lost 53-50 in Massachusetts earlier this season.
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