Johnson scores 20 in SLU's 62-53 win over George Washington

ST. LOUIS -- Jalen Johnson sank four 3-pointers and finished with 20 points to lead Saint Louis past George Washington for a 62-53 win Saturday night.

Hasahn French added 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting and Javon Bess chipped in 13 points to go with 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double in the past six games for Saint Louis (16-13, 9-7 Atlantic 10).

Davell Roby made a pair of free throws and Bess added a jumper to put Saint Louis on top for good, 18-15, late in the first half and the Billikens protected the margin to take a 25-22 advantage into the break.

Travis Ford on @SaintLouisMBB being 9-7 in Atlantic 10 play after beginning the conference slate with a 1-4 record: "We've fought a lot of adversity. To have nine wins and still (have) a couple games to go -- saying I'm proud is an understatement." #Billikens pic.twitter.com/AyYgktTLPC

— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) February 25, 2018

George Washington (13-16, 6-10) stayed close and got a jumper midway through the second half from Yuta Watanabe to cut the deficit to 39-38 but the Colonials got the rest of the way.

Watanabe finished with 15 points and Arnaldo Toro grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds to go with 14 points for George Washington.