SLU pulled out a four-point victory in Pittsburgh back on January 22nd. (photo/Duquesne athletics)
The Saint Louis Billikens come into play tonight ranked 8th in the Coaches and 10th in the A.P. poll. The Billikens, making another national TV appearance on NBCSN, starting at 7 p.m., will be going for their 20th straight win when they host Duquesne tonight at Chaifetz Arena. At 25-2, Saint Louis is one of six programs nationally with two or fewer losses. SLU’s 12-0 start in A-10 play is the Billikens’ best-ever start in a conference season.
A win for the Billikens would clinch the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship in Brooklyn and at least a share of the A-10 regular-season title.
SLU’s current win streak is the fourth-longest active winning streak in the country. Senior forward Dwayne Evans (14.3 ppg), senior guard Jordair Jett (13.8 ppg) and senior forward Rob Loe (10.2 ppg) score in double figures and senior guard Mike McCall Jr. contributes 9.2 ppg, and sophomore guard Austin McBroom averages 8.3 ppg.
Jett, the reigning A-10 Player of the Week, is third in the A-10 in scoring in league play, averaging 17.9 ppg. Jett is third in the league with 5.0 assists per game. Jett has earned A-10 POW a school-record four times this season.
Duquesne University enters Thursday’s matchup 11-15 overall and 3-10 in Atlantic 10 Conference play. The Dukes are coming off back-to-back final minute losses at St. Bonaventure and to Dayton.
Saint Louis and Duquesne are meeting for the second time this season. Earlier this year in Pittsburgh, Mike McCall Jr. scored 13 points, including a pair of free throws late, to help SLU escape with the win.