GAME NOTES: The SIU Edwardsville Cougars will try to snap their five-game losing streak on Saturday when they visit Chaifetz Arena for a non-conference battle with the Saint Louis Billikens.

The Cougars have been off since last Saturday's 94-61 loss at Central Michigan. The Chippewas held them to 40 percent efficiency from the floor, including a 5- of-16 clip from behind the 3-point line, and drew 21 fouls. Kris Davis led the Cougars with 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor, but the rest of the starting five combined to make good on 6-of-21 field goal attempts. SIUE's perimeter defense failed miserably, as CMU sank 20-of-35 tries from behind the 3-point line.

SIUE has recorded a pair of 10-block games this season and leads the OVC and ranks 20th among Division I teams with six blocks per came. The Cougars have been unimpressive otherwise, being outscored by 4.2 ppg and outrebounded by 4.9 rpg. Davis is pacing the team with 16.3 ppg. Donivine Stewart has shown off his versatility by ranking second in scoring (13.5) and first on the team in rebounds (5.0 rpg), assists (5.0 apg), steals (1.5 spg) and minutes (35.8 mpg).

The Billikens lost their second straight on Tuesday due to an atrocious offensive showing against South Dakota State. SLU connected on only 33.3 percent of its field goal tries and just 2-of-19 from 3-point range, and the Jackrabbits shot 51.4 percent from the floor en route to a 62-55 decision. The five Billikens who started combined for 10 points and the same number of personal fouls. Coach Jim Crews has led the program to the NCAA Tournament in each of his three seasons as SLU's head coach, but to keep the streak alive his team will need to step up its play before the start of Atlantic 10 Conference play.

The Billikens are ranked second to last in the 14-team A-10 in scoring offense with 60.1 ppg, which is 1.5 points less than their opponents' average. They are being outrebounded by 4.8 rpg Austin McBroom leads the team in scoring with 10.8 ppg. He connects on 43.9 percent of his 3-point field goal attempts. Ash Yacoubou is second on the squad in scoring (8.3 ppg) and grabs a team-high 4.7 rpg.

SLU is 8-1 versus SIUE in the history of the rivalry. The Billikens defeated the Cougars, 68-41, on Dec, 28, 2012 in SIUE's only previous visit to Chaifetz Arena.

This is a good opportunity for SLU to capture a much-needed win. This is the least-experienced and impressive roster Crews has had during his tenure in St. Louis, but this team could progress into one of the better teams in the A-10 by the end of the season.