SLU played better defense and better offense and came away with a 25-point win over George Washington. It was obviously a very big difference from the first meeting, and while SLU will never be an offensive juggernaut this season, that first GW game is looking more and more like the bizarre anomaly it was. Though, of course, the second Dayton game gives it a bit more credibility.

A 25-point conference win is rare for SLU. Going back through the files, the last one I can find is SLU’s 73-48 win over UAB in the final regular season game of the 2000-01 season. Games with that big are rare in the A-10. In a quick check, I count just five games in the league this season decided by more than 25, and three involve SLU. (The first GW game, a 29-point loss, and the second Dayton game, a 27-point loss are the others.) The others were Xavier’s 69-43 win over Dayton and Duquesne’s 92-67 win over GW.

SLU is alone in 8th with the win, though UMass could tie them with a win Thursday night.

Sunday is Rick Majerus’ birthday.

Husak was the leading scorer in both GW games. He had five in the first game.

SLU’s 29 point lead late in the second half was its second biggest of the season. It led by 36 against Houston Baptist.

SLU has made 21 baskets in each of its past three games.

SLU’s 39.6 field goal percentage, which was dragged down by some garbage-time misses, was the team’s second-lowest in a victory. It should 38.5 against Long Beach State.

SLU’s 19 to 6 assist-turnover ratio was its best of the season.

SLU matched its season low with just eight fouls.

Liddell hit his first 3 since the Rhode Island game.

Lisch has made 15 straight free throws. But Adam Knollmeyer remains perfect at 6 for 6 on the season.

Barry Eberhardt had an uneventful 11 minutes. No points, one rebound, two fouls. He wasn’t needed as much because of Husak’s play.

Dwayne Polk hit four 3’s. That’s one of those amazing things, and it’s just hard to believe. But his shots looked good. Majerus wondered if a talk with Polk’s mom about academics made her son calmer on the court.

Anthony Mitchell didn’t get into the game at the end because he hurt his hand. That left Polk to be on the court with the guys who seldom play at the end.

And yes, Dustin Maguire isn’t suiting up because he has a possible concussion after getting hit in the head in practice.

It’s really hard to judge Marcus Relphorde, since he only plays a few minutes a game, but he isn’t getting much out of the time he has. He’s 0 for 7 and hasn’t scored since the Kent State game. Other than missing three shots and turning the ball over once, his scoreline was decidedly zero.

The plus-minus for a 25-point game:

Lisch +29

Brown +27

Meyer +24

Husak +23

Liddell +14

Polk +12

Eberhardt +2

Eckerle -2

Relphorde -4

Knollmeyer, Jacks, Jones 0