NEWARK, Del. – For the second time in the opening three games of the season, the La Salle men's basketball team fell in overtime fashion in an 85-82 battle against Delaware in their opening road game of the 2021-22 season.

With just over nine seconds on the clock, Jhamir Brickus gave the Explorers a late lead after finishing on an and-one opportunity at the rim. After a foul with 2.4 seconds gave the Blue Hens a chance to regain the lead, a 1-3 performance from the line gave new life as the two teams went into La Salle's second game of the season that would end with extra time. The Blue Hens gave the Explorers similar fate that was suffered on opening day, outscoring the visitors 15-12 in overtime to grab the victory.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jack Clark found his rhythm early on, knocking down five of the first seven points for the Explorers after two offensive rebounds by Christian Ray kept a possession alive, Jhamir Brickus eventually finding the Cheltenham, Pa. native on the wing for a wide open three.
• An 8-0 run by the hosts gave them a 10-7 lead, cut into by back to back baskets from Ray, on the receiving end of two early assists from Anwar Gill.
• The Explorer defense kept the score at bay, Delaware only able to push the score to 18-14 after the visitors missed eight of nine shots. The Explorers found their stroke again, using a 7-0 run to retake the lead at 24-22.
• After La Salle reestablished a four point advantage, the Blue Hens knocked down the final nine points of the half, including a Dylan Painter three as time expired to give Delaware a 35-30 advantage heading into the locker room.
• Delaware came out of the break extending the lead to seven, the largest deficit the Explorers faced on the season to that point.
• La Salle forced a 9-0 run, five coming from Josh Nickelberry to cut the lead and give the Explorers a 45-43 lead.
• The two teams would take turns trading baskets and leads, Delaware grabbed a 58-54 lead with 5:13 remaining.
• Free throws from both teams dictated the majority of the remainder of regulation, Explorers closing even with the Blue Hens.
• A pair of free throws regained the Blue Hens their lead but Brickus would give the Blue and Gold a lead with nine seconds on the clock, fighting through contact to make a contested layup and knock down the ensuing free throw.
• With 2.4 seconds, Delaware's Ryan Allen only knocked down one of three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt, forcing the Explorers second overtime game in three games.
• A Brickus three with time expiring cut the deficit in half, but proved consolation as the Blue Hens outscored La Salle 15-12 in the overtime period.

 
GAME NOTES

• Tegra Izay made his first appearance of the season with 4:22 left in the first half. Scored his first points of the campaign with a two handed flush over a Delaware defender with 1:14. Izay finished with four points on 2-2 shooting.
• Christian Ray recorded eight rebounds in the first half.
• Ryan Allen and Dylan Painter led all scorers with 12 points in the first half. Clark paced the Explorers with nine. Clark finished the game with a team-high and season-high 18 points.
• First time this season that La Salle didn't enter half with a lead.
• Ray recorded a double-double with 14:44 remaining in the game. His fourth of his career, Ray bested his previous career-high of 14 rebounds, leading the team with 16 rebounds while tallying four assists to go along with a season-high 14 points.
• Jhamir Brickus recorded a season-high 6 assists to pace the Explorers
• Delaware's Painter and Allen combined for 17-25 (68.0%) from the field, while the rest of the Blue Hens went 7-34 (20.6%).
• All five starters finished the day in double-digits.
• Clifton Moore finished with a career-best 14 points, going 8-10 from the charity stripe.
• With 12 points tonight, Nickelberry has recorded more points this season (41) than while at Louisville (37).
• The Blue Hens have now won their last seven home openers, and are 22-8 all time in home openers at the Bob Carpenter Center.
• La Salle dropped just their fifth game against Delaware in its 27^th matchup.

 
UP NEXT

• The Explorers return to Gola to take on Army in a Saturday, November 20 doubleheader. Tip is slated for 4 p.m.