For the first time in 20 years, the Saint Louis University Billikens will be playing for a championship in a postseason tournament. Led by coach Rich Grawer and local star Anthony Bonner, the Billikens advanced to the championship game of the National Inviational Tournament at Madison Square Garden.

Two decades later, Rick Majerus’ Billikids will be playing in the championship series of the College Basketball Invitational.

  SLU earned its ticket to the championship round with a 69-59 victory over Princeton in the semifinals on Wednesday night at the Chaifetz Arena.

  The Billikids will play Virginia Commonwealth in the best of three championship series. The first game will be play in Richmond, Va. on Monday night, March 29 at 6 p.m. (St. Louis time.) Game 2 will be held in St. Louis on Wednesday night with the third and deciding game also at the Chaifetz Arena next Friday night if necessary.

  In a game billed as a battle between two of the top defensive teams in the nation, the first 12 minutes of the game was anything but as both teams were shooting at a blistering 70 percent from the field. The offensive execution on both sides was flawless and neither defense could stop the other.

  The last seven and a half minutes of the first half belonged to the Billikens’ defense as they put the clamps on the Princeton offense, limiting the Tigers to just one field goal during that span. Princeton scored at will with crisp ball movement and excellent shooting, but the Bills cut that off later in the half as they forced the normally precision passing and cutting Princeton team to make moves off the dribble.

  Offensively, sophomores Kwamain Mitchell and Willie Reed were dominating the action as the Billikens built a 38-29 halftime lead. Mitchell was on fire with 17 points while Reed chipped in with 10 points. Brian Conklin added five tough points inside as he and Reed established dominance in the paint while Kwamain was running wild on the perimeter.

  The Billikids scored the first eight points of the second half to build its lead to 17 points before the Tigers made their move. They cut the lead to eight points, but could not get any closer as the Billikens shot 50 percent in the second half and a robust 54 percent for the game. Not bad against a team that is statistically the best in the county, giving up only 52 points a game.

  Kwamain led the way with 21 points and five assists. After a hot-shooting first half, he spent much of the second half being a facilitator.

  Willie was once again the big story with 20 points and 10 rebounds, a block and a steal. Willie has enjoyed a monster tournament with games of 17 points, eight rebounds, 21 points, nine rebounds and 20 points and 10 rebounds.

  Cody Ellis and Brian finished with nine points while Kyle Cassity and Christian Salecich finished with five points. We forced 14 turnovers and scored 21 points off of those turovers. The most spectacular turnover to basket came in the first half when Willie stole a reverse pass and dribbled his long 6’10” body down court for an emphatic slam dunk.

  The crowd of 4,682 was loud and raucous, just as they were on Monday night in the dramatic double-overtime victory against Wisconsin-Green Bay. The crowd needs to be saluted. You guys have been great during these three games and the kids have responded.

  For your efforts, you get to see your Billikids play for a championship next week.

  I’ll be talking to you next week from Richmond.

  Go Bills!