Ishan Sharma’s five 3-pointers spark No. 19 Saint Louis past La Salle, 82-58 at home
Second-half surge turns a tight Atlantic 10 matchup into a lopsided Saint Louis win
Saint Louis extended its winning streak and reinforced its standing in the national rankings Saturday with an 82-58 home victory over La Salle, using a decisive second-half run fueled by reserve guard Ishan Sharma’s perimeter shooting.
Sharma scored 15 points, all on five 3-pointers, giving the Billikens an immediate spark after halftime in a game that was still competitive at the break. Saint Louis led 31-27 at intermission before outscoring La Salle 51-31 in the second half.
Game flow: from four ties to a late pull-away
La Salle stayed within striking distance for much of the opening half. The Explorers produced multiple tying sequences and kept the margin narrow through a combination of half-court execution and second-chance opportunities. Saint Louis, however, found separation after the break as its guards began to consistently create clean looks from the arc.
A pivotal 12-0 stretch in the second half swung control firmly to Saint Louis. During that run, Sharma knocked down three 3-pointers, and Brady Dunlap added another long-range make. The surge helped turn a close contest into a double-digit game, and Saint Louis maintained that cushion through the final minutes.
Key numbers: efficiency defense and perimeter contrast
- Saint Louis held La Salle to 32.8% shooting from the field.
- La Salle went 3-for-17 from 3-point range.
- Saint Louis received a 30-17 advantage in bench scoring.
- La Salle won the offensive-rebounding battle 15-4, but could not convert it into sustained scoring.
Notable performances and roster context
Quentin Jones scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds for Saint Louis, while Amari McCottry added 13 points. Robbie Avila finished with nine points and eight assists, providing playmaking that helped the Billikens generate shots during their second-half acceleration.
For La Salle, Rob Dockery posted 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists. The Explorers played without Jerome Brewer Jr., their second-leading scorer, for a second consecutive game due to an undisclosed injury.
What the result means in the standings and what’s next
The win moved Saint Louis to 23-1 overall and 11-0 in Atlantic 10 play, marking the program’s best start in conference play since the 2013-14 season and its best overall start in school history. It also extended the Billikens’ home winning streak to 19 games dating back to last season.
Next games: La Salle hosts VCU on Wednesday, Feb. 11, and Saint Louis visits Loyola Chicago on Friday.
Saturday’s outcome followed a familiar script for Saint Louis: early resistance from an opponent, then sustained defensive pressure and shot-making that turned the final 20 minutes into a one-sided finish.