PHILADELPHIA - Juniors Isiah Deas and Traci Carter each posted career-high point totals and the La Salle University men's basketball team (9-18, 7-18 Atlantic 10) used a total team effort to defeat Davidson (20-8, 11-4 A-10) on Wednesday evening at Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center. Deas went for 25 points, including 15 in the second half, while Carter added 24 points on a blistering 9-for-11 from the floor as the Explorers knocked off the Wildcats, who entered the night in sole possession of second place in the Atlantic 10.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Explorers started off the game hot from three-point range, as Deas, sophomore David Beatty and junior Saul Phiri each connected from deep within the first four minutes of action.
• A jumper from Carter and a tip-in by Deas jumpstarted an 11-2 run that pushed the Explorers in front, 22-13, near the 12-minute mark of the opening half.
• Another long-distance make by Phiri bolstered the advantage to 30-18 with 8:23 remaining in the stanza, before the Wildcats mounted a charge.
• Three straight trifectas by a trio of Davidson players comprised nine of the 11 straight points the visitors scored to pull to within one at 30-29.
• La Salle responded with the final eight points of the half, with Phiri providing the fireworks to close the period.
• The 6-4 guard blocked a shot of Jon Axel Gudmundsson at one end and, seconds later with the game clock running down, drained his fourth triple of the half to give the Explorers a 38-29 cushion heading into halftime.
• With momentum in their favor heading into the second half, the Explorers continued to extend their lead and a three-pointer from Deas at the 14:43 mark put the score at 51-37.
• A brief surge by Davidson cut the margin to seven midway through the half, but Carter connected on a pair of triples and Deas had five straight points, including a fast-break dunk, that bumped the lead to 14 and shifted the tide in favor of La Salle for good.
• The Explorers led by a comfortable margin the rest of the way as they improved to 7-8 in A-10 play and handed the Wildcats just their fourth league loss.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Carter, whose previous career high was 18 set earlier this season against Saint Joseph's, closed a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the three-point arc, leading La Salle to a 13-for-28 (46.4%) performance from deep for the game.
• Deas' prior high-water mark for points in a game came last season against Bucknell (24).
• Phiri was the third Explorer to reach double figures with 14 points on an efficient 5-for-8 shooting (4-for-6 from three).
• Freshman Ed Croswell had 11 rebounds and a pair of blocked shots, and has now recorded double-figure rebounds in six of his last nine outings.
• The Explorers held a 37-30 rebounding edge and limited the top three-point shooting team in the Atlantic 10 to 5-for-17 (29.4%) in the second half. 
• Kellan Grady had 21 points for the Wildcats while Gudmundsson added 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists but shot just 7-for-19 from the floor.

UP NEXT

• La Salle and Saint Joseph's will meet for the second time this season on Saturday, Mar. 2, with the contest at Hagan Arena scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. tipoff.
• The game will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network.