The Saint Louis Billikens got 24 points from Dwayne Evans and Cody Ellis scored 12 points as the fourth-seeded Billikens blew out New Mexico State 64-44 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
Evans shot 11 of 16 from the floor and finished just a point shy of his career best. Saint Louis kept 7’5, 355-pound Sim Bhullar in check, holding him to four points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
Saint Louis (28-6) passed the 1988-89 team’s school record of 27 victories and are back where they were a year ago in the round of 32.
“What’s really pleased me is it’s not what you do, it’s what you are,” Saint Louis interim coach Jim Crews said. “And these guys, what they are has really grown and matured and been good leaders. And at their stage of life that’s what you really want guys to be. And that’s what’s been rewarding from my standpoint.”