ST. LOUIS — In a competitive matchup on Tuesday evening, Gibson Jimerson led the Saint Louis Billikens to a 78-69 victory over the VCU Rams, showcasing an impressive performance with 26 points.
Jimerson also contributed five rebounds to the team’s efforts, helping the Billikens improve their record to 13-8 overall and 6-2 in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Kobe Johnson followed closely behind, scoring 19 points with an efficient shooting night, hitting 6 of 10 attempts, which included 2 for 5 from beyond the arc. He also went 5 for 6 from the charity stripe and added six rebounds for his team. Robbie Avila proved to be a vital asset as well, adding 14 points to the scoreboard while making 3 of 5 field goals and maintaining a perfect 8 for 8 from the free-throw line.
The Rams, boasting a record of 16-5 and also standing at 6-2 in the conference, were led in scoring by Zeb Jackson, who netted 15 points and managed two steals. Phillip Russell matched Jackson’s scoring effort with 15 points of his own, while Max Shulga contributed 14 points to the team total. However, the defeat brought an end to a six-game winning streak for VCU.
An unexpected incident disrupted the game briefly when a fight broke out in the stands close to the VCU bench, causing a delay of approximately seven minutes with just over a minute left on the clock.
Jimerson, who scored 10 points in the first half, helped propel Saint Louis forward as they entered halftime trailing 31-28. He dominated the second half with 16 additional points, allowing the Billikens to seal a convincing nine-point win.