PHILADELPHIA – Sophomore Ed Croswell put forth a career-high double-double of 24 points and 18 rebounds and senior Isiah Deas scored 20 points, but the La Salle men's basketball team came up one point short in overtime against Saint Louis, 77-76, from Tom Gola Arena Wednesday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• It was a defensive battle early on with the game knotted up at seven apiece more than seven minutes into action until Saint Louis went on a 14-3 run to take an 11-point lead.
• A pair of three-pointers from redshirt junior Scott Spencer helped cut the deficit to six, but the Billikens maintained the advantage and a three by Demarius Jacobs just before the halftime buzzer gave Saint Louis a 35-25 lead at the break.
• Deas sank a triple from the top of the key to open up the second half scoring and force a quick Saint Louis timeout, however the Billikens pushed the lead to 13 less than four minutes later.
• Deas then caught fire, responding with an and-one jumper at the 15 minute mark and then another and-one three minutes later on a layup, converting the free-throw after the under-12 media timeout to make it 49-39.
• He wasn't finished yet either as Deas sank a deep jumper to start a 6-0 run for the Explorers, with freshman Brandon Stone capping it off with a layup to suddenly cut the deficit to just six, 53-47 with 8:51 to go.
• La Salle worked itself back within three after junior David Beatty hit a pair of foul shots and the Explorers made it a one-point game, 60-59, on a put-back by Croswell with 3:55 on the clock.
• Saint Louis would stretch its lead to six after another three by Jacobsbefore consecutive layups from Croswell brought the Explorers within two at 67-65. Croswell then sank two free throws to tie the game at 67 apiece with 31 seconds left.
• The Explorers locked in with their perimeter defense in the closing seconds and forced a shot clock violation with just 0.8 seconds on the clock, leading to overtime.
• A dunk by Croswell 1:25 into overtime put the Explorers ahead by one, but the Billikens answered right back and took a 77-73 lead on a Jordan Goodwin three with 52 seconds to go.
• Beatty brought La Salle right back within one though, draining a three with 25.3 seconds showing. The Explorers had a chance in the final seconds over overtime to complete the comeback win, but Deas' final attempt was off target.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Croswell's 24 points came on 10-for-16 shooting from the floor, easily eclipsing his previous career best of 18 points, which he reached twice earlier this season.
• Nine of Croswell's career-high 18 rebounds came on the offensive glass, besting his previous top rebounding mark of 16 from last season. He also added two steals and two blocks.
• It was the most rebounds in a game by an Explorer since B.J. Johnson had 23 against Rhode Island in 2018.
• Deas scored 13 of La Salle's first 18 points in the second half to spark the comeback.

UP NEXT

• La Salle will look to bounce back at Duquesne on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.