GAME NOTES: The Saint Louis Billikens will try to extend their home win streak to 11 games today, as they entertain the Long Beach State 49ers in non-league play at the Scottrade Center. The Billikens enter the game off their worst effort of the season, as they were trounced at Kent State, 81-40, on Wednesday. It was the second loss in the past three outings for SLU, which dipped to 5-3 overall. On a positive note, the team now returns back home, where it has won 10 games in a row, including all three this season. As for LBSU, its struggles continued on Monday with an 84-69 setback at Washington. The loss was the second in a row for the 49ers, who slipped to just 1-4 overall. This is the team's final contest of a three-game road swing and that is a good thing considering LBSU is currently 0-3 on an opponent's home floor. Today's matchup is the first-ever between the 49ers and the Billikens on the hardwood.

The 49ers are being outscored by 15.8 ppg this season and is due in large part to poor shooting from the floor (.386) as well as from behind the arc (.282). Donovan Morris leads the team in both scoring (12.6 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 rpg), but he is hitting on just 34.6 percent from the field. In the team's last game, LBSU actually shot a solid 45.8 percent from the floor, but it still wasn't enough to overcome 18 costly turnovers in a loss at Washington. The 49ers even made good on 6-of-11 three-point attempts, so at every least they gained some confidence despite the loss. Artis Gant paced LBSU in defeat with 15 points, while Morris logged 14 points and four rebounds.

The Billikens are a patient team at the offensive end of the court, and that is displayed in their efficient shooting from the field (.501), long range (.373) and foul line (.741). Kevin Lisch currently leads the team in scoring with 15.1 ppg and he is also handing out 3.7 apg to pace the squad in that department as well. Tommie Liddell III is the only other player on the roster averaging in double digits at the moment, with 10.6 ppg. In the squad's latest outing, SLU put forth its worst performance of the season, as it shot a dismal 31.1 percent from the floor in a lopsided loss to Kent State. The team also missed all 11 of its three-point attempts and it even committed 19 turnovers. Lisch guided the Billikens in the setback with just eight points and four boards.

SLU is coming off a simply dreadful performance, but don't expect a repeat effort at home. The Billikens have thrived on their home floor and with a solid shooting effort, they should be able to rebound with a win today.