PHILADELPHIA – Sophomore Christian Ray matched his career high with 15 points, but the La Salle men's basketball team saw its two-game win streak come to an end against Rhode Island in Atlantic 10 Conference action Wednesday night from Tom Gola Arena, 73-60.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Explorers went on top by five in the early going after a jumper by redshirt senior Scott Spencer and a layup by Ray made it 9-5 just over three minutes in.
• Rhode Island would go in front a few minutes later, but the Explorers remained in striking distance and regained the advantage, 19-17, on a Ray three-pointer midway through the first.
• La Salle clung to a 23-22 lead before the Rams went on an 8-0 run to take a seven-point advantage, but again the two teams went back-and-forth as a dunk by junior Jared Kimbrough and a three by freshman Jhamir Brickus put the Explorers up 31-30 with two minutes left in the half.
• However, Rhody concluded the half on a 7-0 run and entered the halftime up 37-31 after a Jeremy Sheppard jumper in the final seconds.
• The Rams stretched their lead to seven early in the second period before La Salle worked its way back to within three, 45-42, on a three-pointer by redshirt sophomore Jack Clark.
• Although Rhody extended its lead to 56-47 with 9:59 remaining, La Salle ramped up its defense and pulled back within three after Ray forced a steal and went coast-to-coast for a one-handed slam to cap a 9-2 run and make it 56-53 at the under-eight media timeout.
• The Rams gathered themselves out of the timeout though and used an 8-0 run to push their lead to 64-53 with 4:45 remaining.
• La Salle couldn't get any offensive rhythm going in the final minutes of play as Rhode Island ended the game on a 17-7 run.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Ray shot 6-for-10 from the floor and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc while adding six rebounds and matching his career best with three steals.
• Rhode Island shot the lights out, hitting 56.1 percent of its shots from the field and 57.1 percent of its attempts from the three-point line. Jeremy Sheppard led the Rams with 25 points.

UP NEXT

• The Explorers will hit the road for their next two games, starting with a trip to VCU on Saturday, Jan. 30, for a 1 p.m. tilt that will air live on NBC Sports Network.