ST. LOUIS, Mo. – In a win over Fordham Tuesday night, the Bonnies were said to have ‘gotten their smiles back,’ after a tough start to Atlantic 10 play.

The smiles were wide for the Bonnies and their faithful Friday night at Chaifetz Arena as they delivered a gritty, 68-61 victory over Saint Louis in front of a raucous crowd on national TV.

Kyle Lofton showed the way with the type of leading performance that have defined his Bona’s career, finishing with 16 points and eight rebounds along with four steals.

Jalen Adaway added 15 points and five rebounds and Jaren Holmes and Osun Osunniyi each posted 12 apiece with Osun tacking on six blocks and six rebounds.

With the win, St. Bonaventure improves to 14-7 overall and 6-4 in A-10 action after snapping a six-game Billikens winning streak. Saint Louis, ranked second in the conference standings, now stands 17-7, 8-3.

Saint Louis posted just five points in the first five minutes, but two quick fouls whistled on Osunniyi forced the senior center to the bench at the 14:56 mark of the opening period.

The Billikens responded with a 12-0 run to race ahead, 19-10, but a return to the court from Osunniyi later in the half would spark a matching Bonnies run. Bona’s would pour in the game’s next 16 points to quiet the crowd for a 30-26 edge with three minutes left before half.

The visitors would ultimately take a 34-30 advantage to the break, scoring 26 of their tallies in the paint while forcing 11 turnovers from the Billikens.

Bona led by nine, 53-44, following a straightaway three from Adaway, but the Billikens would respond with a traditional three-point play on the ensuing possession.

Foul trouble continued to plague the Bonnies in the post as Abdoul Karim Coulibaly was called for his fifth and disqualifying foul with 5:06 to play, forcing Osunniyi back into the game earlier than expected with foul fouls of his own.

The visitors went quiet offensively before Holmes cleaned the boards with a layup off his fingertips for a 57-50 lead with 3:34 remaining and an important swing in momentum.

Ahead 61-56 with 1:04 to go, Adaway worked his way to the line and sank both.

SLU’s Yuri Collins brought the hosts back within a possession, though, with 38 seconds showing on the clock with a transition trey.

After being sent back to the stripe, Adaway delivered again with two more, pushing the lead back to five.

A Bonnies defensive stop left the Billikens in a must-foul situation and Lofton iced the game with a pair of free throws.

Collins delivered 18 points and seven helpers in a prime time point guard matchup against Lofton.