PHILADELPHIA - Freshman Christian Ray scored a career-high 15 points and sophomore Ed Croswell registered his fourth double-double of the year with 18 points and 15 rebounds as the La Salle University men's basketball team overcame a slow start offensively to post a 66-58 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday.

Croswell's point total also matched his season and career high, set earlier this season in the championship game of the Gulf Coast Showcase against South Alabama. Senior Isiah Deas was the third player to score in double figures with 13 points as the Explorers improve to 8-3 on the year.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a layup by sophomore Jared Kimbrough gave La Salle a 13-12 lead with 9:10 remaining in the first half, a 10-1 spurt by the visitors that included five points by Jahlil Jenkins gave FDU a 22-14 advantage.
• La Salle responded with 10 consecutive points, with Ray and Croswell combining for eight of them over a span of 2:11.
• Five straight points from Deas with under two minutes left helped the Explorers build a 31-27 cushion heading into halftime.
• The advantage came despite the fact that La Salle shot just 1-for-10 from three-point range after entering the contest shooting 37.0 percent from deep (3rd in the Atlantic 10).
• Fairleigh Dickinson quickly erased its deficit to start the second half, pushing ahead by a 38-33 margin following two free throws by Jenkins.
• The Explorers nudged closer over the next five minutes, and went on an 11-3 run that was capped by a conventional three-point play by Ray at the 8:22 mark.
• Jenkins converted on a fast-break hoop two minutes later that brought the Knights to within one, before a big three-pointer from Deas with 5:10 to go put the score at 53-49.
• The trifecta, the second and final made three-pointer of the game for La Salle, started a decisive 10-0 spurt that effectively put the game out of reach.
• Croswell and Ray were once again the catalysts, scoring the final 13 points for the Explorers to lead them to their fourth-straight victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The two made three-pointers were the fewest of the season for the Explorers but the home team made up for that by having a season-best rebounding performance.
• Led by Croswell's 15 boards, including eight at the offensive end, La Salle outboarded Fairleigh Dickinson, 45-35, and had a 21-3 edge in second-change points.
• The bench also played a critical role in the win, as the La Salle reserves outscored FDU's bench by a 25-5 margin.
• Jenkins had a game-high 21 points for the Knights, who fell to 2-9 on the year.

UP NEXT

• The Explorers will have a week-long break before hosting Bucknell at The Palestra on Saturday, Dec. 28.
• Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the ticket office at (215) 951-1999 or by clicking here.