SETTING THE SCENE
Saint Louis (9-3) closes out 2012 with a New Year's Eve rematch against New Mexico (13-1) at Chaifetz Arena. Monday's game time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The Billikens will look for revenge as New Mexico won a 64-60 thriller last year on New Year's Eve at the Pit in Albuquerque.
Due to the First Night New Year's Eve celebration (6 p.m. to Midnight) in Grand Center, traffic will be more prevalent on and around the SLU campus Monday. Grand Boulevard between Lindell and Delmar will be closed all day Monday. All parking garages and surface lots will be open at least three hours prior to game time. Doors to Chaifetz Arena open two hours to game time.
PROMOTIONS
• During games through the Holiday break, current SLU students with a valid SLU ID may bring one guest to a game, free of charge.
• Chaifetz Arena offers special "happy hour" deals for fans arriving early to games. From the opening of doors (two hours before tip) until 30 minutes before game time, fans can take advantage of $2 nachos and $2 beers.
• The Billikens have won six in a row and enter Monday night's game 9-3 overall.
• SLU is in the midst of nine straight home games and is 6-0 on the homestand thus far. The Bills do not leave Chaifetz Arena again until Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, when they take on Temple in Philadelphia, the Bills' second Atlantic 10 Conference tilt of the season.
• Saint Louis leads the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring defense, yielding 55.4 ppg.
• Junior forward Dwayne Evans leads the Billikens in scoring (12.3 ppg) and rebounding (6.7 ppg). He shoots 55.1 percent from the field.
• Junior guard Mike McCall Jr. has led the Billikens in scoring the last three games. He is second on the squad with 11.8 ppg and leads the team in 3-point field goal percentage (.522, 24-46).
• Senior forward Cody Ellis is third on the squad in scoring (10.6 ppg) and second in rebounding (3.8 rpg). He hits 90.2 percent (37-41) from the free-throw line.
• Junior guard Jordair Jett averages 9.3 ppg and boasts a .543 (44-81) shooting clip from the field.
• Senior forward Cory Remekun leads the team in blocked shots (19, 1.9 bpg). He also scores 6.2 ppg and shoots 65.9 percent from the floor.
• Senior guard Kwamain Mitchell saw his first action of the season Friday against SIUE after missing the first 11 games with a foot injury.
• Junior guard Mike McCall Jr. and senior guard Kwamain Mitchell were named to the Cousy Award watch list. The Cousy Award is given to the nation's top collegiate point guard. Saint Louis is one of five schools to have multiple players on the watch list.
• The Billikens have yielded a season low in points in each of the last three games.
• SLU shoots 46.3 percent (273-590) from the floor, 37.7 percent (77-204) from 3-point range and 72.7 percent (173-238) from the line.
• Next up, Saint Louis hosts Savannah State (5-7 entering Jan. 2 game at Western Illinois) Friday, Jan. 4. Tip time at Chaifetz Arena is slated for 7 p.m.
• The University of New Mexico is coming off a 55-54 at No. 8 Cincinnati and enter Monday's game 13-1 overall.
• The Lobos were ranked No. 16/17 in the nation two weeks ago, but dropped out of the polls (released Dec. 24) after a 70-65 home loss to South Dakota State. UNM is expected to re-enter the rankings when the new polls come out Dec. 31.
• Junior guard Kendall Williams leads the Lobos with 14.9 ppg. He has also dished out a team-best 66 assists and has recorded 17 steals. Junior guard Tony Snell scores 11.5 ppg and has hit a team-best 21 3-pointers.
• Sophomore center Alex Kirk hits 11.2 ppg and pulls down 7.4 rpg. He leads the team with 19 blocks.
• New Mexico returns eight lettermen and three starters from last year's 2011-12 season in which the Lobos went 28-7 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament third round. The Lobos won their third regular season championship in the last four years, and then won the conference tournament defeating San Diego State 68-59.
• Steve Alford is in his sixth season as the head coach at the University of New Mexico. He spent the previous eight seasons as the head coach at the University of Iowa. Prior to Iowa, Alford posted a 78-29 record in four seasons (1992-95) at NCAA Division III Manchester (Ind.) College and a four-year (1996-99) record of 78-48 at Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State). His teams have qualified for postseason play 16 times, produced 18 winning seasons and reached 20 wins on 13 occasions.
New Mexico leads the series 3-2. Last season, the Lobos topped SLU 64-60 at the Pit in Albuquerque.
