Milik Yarbrough
Courtesy: Saint Louis Athletics
Ash Yacoubou and Austin McBroom scored 15 points apiece and Milik Yarbrough added a career-high 13, but Saint Louis dropped a 70-55 decision to Vanderbilt Wednesday afternoon at Chaifetz Arena.
The Billikens, who saw their winning streak halted at three, completed the non-conference portion of their schedule with an 8-5 record. Vanderbilt improved to 9-3.
Yacoubou connected on a season-high three 3-pointers (3-of-5) and hauled in a team-high six rebounds. McBroom was 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and matched Yarbrough’s 5-of-9 overall shooting performance.
Davell Roby and Reggie Agbeko tallied three assists and five rebounds, respectively, for Saint Louis, which equaled its season low of eight turnovers. Agbeko grabbed a game-high four offensive boards.
Riley LaChance tossed in a game-high 19 points and added seven rebounds and four assists for Vanderbilt, which shot 54.3 percent (25-of-46) from the field overall and 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from 3-point range. Damian Jones had 15 points and six rebounds, while James Siakam collected a game-high nine rebounds.
The Billikens trailed by seven at intermission and cut the Vanderbilt lead to six, 35-29, on a McBroom triple early in the second half. The Commodores responded with a 15-4 flurry that gave them their largest lead, 50-33, with 10:58 remaining.
Saint Louis fought its way back by scoring on seven straight possessions.
A Yarbrough layup was followed by Yacoubou’s driving basket and 3-pointer from the left wing. Yarbrough sank two free throws and followed with a short turnaround jumper that reduced the Vanderbilt lead to single digits, 52-44.
McBroom drilled a trey from the left wing, and Yarbrough’s layup made it 56-49 Vandy with 6:17 to play.
The Billikens failed to score on their next four possessions, however, and the Commodores regained control with an 8-0 run.
Yarbrough and McBroom delivered 3-pointers to give Saint Louis a quick 6-2 lead. Vanderbilt forged an 8-8 tie on a LaChance 3-pointer and Jeff Roberson’s three-point play.
The score was knotted at 12 when Vanderbilt took command with a 13-0 run. LaChance, Luke Kornet and Shelton Mitchell hit from beyond the arc during the spurt, and the Commodores led 25-12 with 9:11 left.
Saint Louis answered with a 9-4 run, including the first of two Yacoubou first-half 3-pointers, to cut the deficit to single digits, 29-21, at the 4:05 mark.
Vanderbilt scored on two straight possessions to establish a 33-21 lead, but the Commodores couldn’t increase the margin after SLU missed a pair of free throws. Roby’s driving bucket and Yacoubou’s trey in the waning seconds brought the Billikens to within seven, 33-26, at the break.
The Billikens open Atlantic 10 Conference play at home Saturday, Jan. 3, when Rhode Island visits for a 2 p.m. tip-off.
