Giant Canadian can’t make a difference
AN JOSE, CALIF.— Saint Louis is carrying on the memory of Rick Majerus the best way it knows how: by advancing in the NCAA tournament.
Dwayne Evans had 24 points and six rebounds, Cody Ellis scored 12 points as Billikens overwhelmed New Mexico State 64-44 in the second round Thursday .
“It was like Rick was up on top of the backboard slapping the ball out,” New Mexico State coach Marvin Menzies said.
Playing with a heavy heart since Majerus died in December, Saint Louis reached another mark in March for its late coach. The Billikens (28-6) eclipsed the 1988-89 team’s school record of 27 victories and are back where they were a year ago in the round of 32.
They will play Saturday against 12th-seeded Oregon.
Saint Louis had no problem manoeuvring around seven-foot-five Toronto freshman Sim Bhullar and New Mexico State.
Evans shot 11 of 16 from the floor and finished a point shy of his career best to propel Saint Louis around, over and even through the 355-pound Bhullar, who struggled to keep pace. The Billikens held Bhullar to four points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
Bandja Sy had 17 points and nine rebounds for the 13th-seeded Aggies (24-11), who shot a miserable 28 per cent.
Bhullar only bothered the Billikens briefly. The lumbering centre stayed around the rim while his teammates chased five players around the perimeter. The unconventional defence allowed Bhullar,to save energy.
Once Saint Louis solved the big man, it had no trouble at either end.
Saint Louis had a Toronto native in its starting lineup as well, with Grandy Glaze contributing two points, three rebounds and a steal.