NEW YORK (AP) Saint Louis coach Travis Ford could feel a shift about eight minutes into the second half of the Atlantic 10 Tournament championship game. The Billikens had trailed St. Bonaventure almost the whole way to that point - by as much as 15 in the first half - but Ford could sense the Bonnies were ready to be caught.

"I told them, now let's put the pedal to the metal," Ford said. "Let's let loose a little bit. Let's get aggressive on defense."

The Billikens responded with a run that gave them the lead for good and Saint Louis beat St. Bonaventure 55-53 Sunday to win the Atlantic 10 and an NCAA Tournament bid.