Saint Louis holds Massachusetts to 59 points in rout

ST. LOUIS — Tommie Liddell and Kevin Lisch scored 16 points each and Saint Louis held high-scoring Massachusetts to its lowest point total of the season in a 71-59 victory Saturday.

Massachusetts (14-7, 3-4 Atlantic 10) came into the game averaging 84.4 points, sixth-highest in the nation, and had scored at least 80 points 13 times this season.

Saint Louis (12-9, 3-4) shut the Minutemen down from the start, holding them to 30 percent shooting, including 2-of-21 from 3-point range. Massachusetts was 9-for-36 in the second half, missing its final 10 shots.

Gary Forbes had 20 points for Massachusetts, which had a previous low of 65 points in a 12-point loss to Xavier last Sunday.

Saint Louis never trailed, leading by six at halftime then opening with a 10-4 run over the first 4:24 of the second half to take control at 44-32.

Liddell was 6-of-11 from the field and grabbed nine rebounds. Lisch was 6-of-13 with four assists. Danny Brown added 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench for Saint Louis.

Chris Lowe scored 14 points, Etienne Brower added 12 and Tony Gaffney had 10 rebounds for the Minutemen.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press