Chasing an opponent for the better part of 40 minutes is not the ideal path to ending a losing streak, but ºüÀêÊÓƵ University looked as if it might make it work Saturday afternoon.
It briefly seemed all of the turnovers and missed rebounds might be overcome, but a team that can’t catch a break failed to do so in the closing minutes of a 67-65 loss to Fordham at Chaifetz Arena.
The problems that had SLU trailing by as many as 12 points were too much, and coach Travis Ford wasn’t pleased that the attempted comeback was stymied by what he considered some “tough calls†against the Billikens late in the game.
Ultimately it was an accumulation of things that led to SLU’s sixth consecutive defeat in the Atlantic 10 Conference and a losing streak that hasn’t been seen since the 2010-11 season.
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“You can’t expect to play basketball turning it over 18 times,†Ford said. “There’s no reason for that. It’s uncalled for. And most of them, I have to believe, were careless. For the most part, we rebounded well but not during key (defensive) stops.â€
Elijah Gray hit a game-winning turnaround jumper with 2.2 seconds left after Fordham retained possession following a missed shot. SLU’s Sincere Parker missed a 3-point try from the corner as time expired.
The Billikens (8-14 overall, 1-8 A-10) took their only lead since the opening minutes of the game with 1:18 left. They couldn’t build on the momentum.
“We had some tough calls go against us,†Ford said. “Sincere Parker got killed going to the basket with under a minute (remaining). Absolutely killed. I think we had a goaltending they didn’t call and all of a sudden they get two goaltends (in their favor). Some tough things went against us under a minute.â€
SLU has lost its last three home games and will go on the road in the upcoming week to play La Salle and St. Joseph’s. The Billikens are 0-7 on the road this season, making for a substantial challenge to escape the bottom of the standings.
Saturday’s game was the halfway point of the A-10 schedule, and SLU will play five of its remaining nine games away from Chaifetz.
After trailing by nine at halftime, SLU found some energy in the second half with a combination that included freshman guard Djordje Curcic. His 3-pointer and a subsequent blocked shot started a rally that awoke the crowd.
Ford stuck with Curcic, Parker, Kellen Thames and Cian Medley with center Brad Ezewiro until the Billikens had wiped out the deficit.
“The one group in the second half was rolling, and we left them in,†SLU forward Terrence Hargrove Jr. said. “They were clicking together. We wanted to finish it off, but they hit a tough shot. Both teams played hard, and we have to get back to the drawing board and keep working. Eventually, we’ll find an answer.â€
Parker played more minutes than he has in any game since returning from a broken foot. Curcic logged his most time in a conference game. Medley received extra minutes because of the absence of guard Mike Meadows Jr. (back).
“We went with guys who were producing,†Ford said. “We’ve got guys who play well one game and then we get nothing. We’ve got to put it all together for us to succeed. We’re not good enough right now for one or two guys to play well.â€
SLU shot considerably better than Fordham — 47.2% to 37.9% — but turnovers gave the Rams (10-12, 4-5) the edge. They had 14 steals that led to 13 more shots than the Billikens had and 19 points off turnovers.
That has been a recurring theme the last two months, and it bit the Billikens from the outset.
Ezewiro had 15 points to lead the Bills. Hargrove and Parker scored 13 each.
“As things get tougher, we have to be stronger,†Hughes said. “We have games to play. As we’re struggling, we have to find things to look forward to and work toward. We can’t quit. We’re not a team full of quitters.â€