The 18-game run had marked the second-longest active winning streak in the country, and the program’s longest since the 2013-14 squad won a school-record 19 games in a row.
Down 79-76 after URI’s Myles Corey made both free throws with 26.3 seconds remaining, Saint Louis had two chances to tie but Avila and Ishan Sharma each missed from beyond the arc. Tyler Cochran wrapped it up for the Rams (15-11, 6-7) by sinking two free throws with 13.6 seconds left.
Corey had 15 points and was 11 of 11 from the foul line. Cochran scored 11.
Saint Louis opened 5 of 9 from the field but trailed 22-15 midway through the first half after committing 10 turnovers. The deficit was six at halftime as the Billikens couldn’t slow down Hinton, whose 23 points came on 8-of-10 shooting from the field and 7 for 9 from 3-point territory.
The Billikens’ quest to improve to 4-0 this season when trailing at the break became tougher when Hinton kept connecting from long range. His ninth 3 gave the Rams a 65-58 lead with 8:48 left.
Saint Louis is ranked in the AP Top 25 for the fifth straight week.
Up next
Saint Louis hosts Virginia Commonwealth on Friday in a matchup for first place in the Atlantic 10.
Rhode Island visits La Salle on Saturday.
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