National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Saint Louis 61, Memphis 54
When: 6:50 PM ET, Friday, March 16, 2012
Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
Officials: # Pat Evans, # Mike Eades, # Ted Valentine
Attendance: 17464
By SportsDirect Inc.

Saint Louis 61, Memphis 54: Kwamain Mitchell scored eight of his 22 points during a decisive 14-2 run in the second half to propel the Billikens past the Tigers in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Ninth-seeded Saint Louis (26-7), which had not won an NCAA game since 1998, will meet No. 1 seed Michigan State in Sunday's third round of the West Regional.

Facing a 42-38 deficit with 7:28 to go, Saint Louis went ahead for good when Mitchell scored five straight points, including a 3-pointer with 6:24 left.

The eighth-seeded Tigers (26-9) were still within one, 45-44, before Mitchell added another basket from well beyond the arc with the shot clock expiring at the 4:52 mark.

Saint Louis committed 17 turnovers but made up for it with a superior defensive effort, holding Memphis 21 points below its season average. The Tigers shot 38.9 percent from the field and made 2 of 15 3-point attempts.

Brian Conklin added 16 points for the Billikens, including 10 of 11 free throws. Will Barton led Memphis with 16 points.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The last time Saint Louis won an NCAA tournament game, coach Rick Majerus was on the Utah sideline, leading the Utes to a spot in the 1998 national championship game. ... Memphis had won seven straight games. ... The Billikens are 5-1 on neutral courts this season.
Top Game Performances
 
Saint Louis   Memphis
Kwamain Mitchell 22 Scoring Will Barton 16
Mike McCall 4 Assists Joe Jackson 4
Dwayne Evans 11 Rebounds Ferrakohn Hall 6
Brian Conklin 10 Free Throws Made Ferrakohn Hall 3
Kwamain Mitchell 2 Steals Chris Crawford 3
Brian Conklin 1 Blocks Tarik Black 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Saint Louis 61 45.7 5-13 14-18 7 31 1 6 17
Memphis 54 38.9 2-15 10-17 4 26 3 8 11