Posted by: Shawn Sweeney
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Despite mounting a second-half comeback after trailing most of the way, the La Salle men's basketball team (10-5, 2-3 Atlantic 10) could not hold on as Rhode Island (9-6, 3-1) gutted out a 71-68 win at Tom Gola Arena. The Rams won the contest at the foul line, making six clutch free throws at the end of the game.
The Explorers tied the game at 63 with just under two minutes to play on a Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Francis) three-pointer. Freshman Marshall Taylor (Philadelphia, PA/West Catholic) penetrated the lane and kicked the ball out to Harris, who found the bottom of the net. From that point on, six of Rhode Island's final eight points were scored from the charity stripe.
La Salle kept it close, trailing by three points with 1 minute, 13 seconds left on the clock. The Explorers had a chance to tie when senior Steven Smith (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) was open for a three-pointer, but sophomore Tabby Cunningham (Philadelphia, PA/St. John Neumann) could not get him the ball. Guard Jermaine Thomas (Frederick, MD/Thomas Johnson) was fouled on the play. Thomas made the ensuing free throws to cut the deficit to one, but Rhode Island's Jamaal Wise was fouled on the next possession and sank his foul shots to put the Rams back up three. Smith heaved a three-pointer on his next trip down the court, but the shot didn't fall.
Rhode Island sealed off the win with a layup off a long outlet pass from Jimmy Baron to Dawan Robinson, beating La Salle's full court pressure. Robinson led all scorers with 20 points. Smith and Thomas paced the Explorers with 16 points apiece. Taylor contributed 11 points, while Harris netted 14 on four trifectas.
La Salle trailed by as many as nine points in the first half, but went into the locker room down six. The Explorers tied the game early in the second stanza on a Taylor three-pointer. La Salle then went on a 10-1 run to take its biggest lead of the game at six points. From there, the game was closely contested as no team led by more than four points until the closing seconds.
The start of the game was delayed by 49 minutes, as the referees were late as a result of a conflict of information.
The loss is the third in a row for the Explorers, who will face conference- and Big 5-rival Saint Joseph's on Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Palestra at 12:05 p.m.
