Fordham at Saint Louis
ST. LOUIS (Interstat) — A surging Saint Louis squad, boasting one of the nation’s best records, will look to continue its dominant run when it hosts a Fordham team coming off a significant road win in Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball action Wednesday night at Chaifetz Arena.
The Billikens (15-1, 2-0 A-10) have won 15 consecutive games since a season-opening, one-point loss to Stanford. Their offense has been prolific, scoring 100 or more points three times during the streak, including a 114-33 rout of Principia on Dec. 28. Saint Louis is coming off an 84-72 road victory at La Salle on Saturday.
Fordham (10-7, 1-1) arrives with momentum after an 81-77 win at Saint Bonaventure on Saturday, snapping a three-game skid. The Rams will need a similar performance to challenge the conference front-runner on its home floor.
A key matchup will feature two of the A-10’s top performers. Saint Louis is led by forward Robbie Avila, who is averaging 15.9 points and 4.5 assists per game. He scored 18 points with four assists and two blocks against La Salle.
Fordham counters with high-scoring guard DeJour Reaves, who is averaging 20.6 points per game. Reaves was spectacular in the win over Saint Bonaventure, pouring in 31 points with six assists in 35 minutes. He has scored 18 or more points in nine straight games.
For the Rams to pull an upset, they will need another big night from Reaves and support from forwards Jack Whitbourn and Rikus Schulte, who combined for 28 points and 16 rebounds against the Bonnies. Containing Avila and Saint Louis’s efficient, high-paced offense, which averages 90.1 points per game, will be Fordham’s primary defensive challenge.
Saint Louis has not lost at home this season. Fordham’s last road victory over the Billikens came in 2015.
The game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. EST tipoff. Saint Louis will host Richmond on Saturday. Fordham returns home to face Duquesne the same day.