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La Salle University Athletics

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scoreboard

Josh Nickelberry
Sideline Photos
65
Holy Cross HolyCr 2-7,0-0 Patriot
84
Winner La Salle LaS 3-4,0-0 Atlantic 10
Holy Cross HolyCr
2-7,0-0 Patriot
65
Final
84
La Salle LaS
3-4,0-0 Atlantic 10
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Holy Cross HolyCr 37 28 65
La Salle LaS 37 47 84

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Nickelberry's Career-Night Propels Men's Basketball Past Holy Cross

PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men's basketball team regained its winning ways as the Explorers toppled the Holy Cross Crusaders on Saturday afternoon inside Tom Gola Arena, thanks in large part to a 28 point outburst from junior guard Josh Nickelberry.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Longing to get off to a quick start, something that has been missing in the past two games, the Explorers did just that. Opening baskets by Sherif Kenney and Christian Ray and an old fashioned three point play from Nickelberry saw the Explorers quickly get off to a 7-0 start, extending that to 9-0 before Holy Cross finally got on the board.
  • The Crusaders began 1-12 to start the game, La Salle able to build the lead to 13-3 with 14:05 left in the opening frame.
  • The visitors found a spark, going for a span of five makes in six trips to take their first lead of the game at 22-19 with 9:18 on the clock.
  • 10 lead changes in the opening half saw a back-and-forth throughout the final 10 minutes, the two teams facing a deadlock heading into the break at 37 apiece.
  • Holy Cross came out of the break taking an early lead after a midrange jumper put the Crusaders up 42-39. La Salle responded, going on a 14-2 run over the next 2:50 as Nickelberry and Clifton Moore added five points each in that span to force a Crusader timeout – the visitors trailing 53-44.
  • Despite trying to work themselves back into the game, the Crusaders couldn't find an answer for Nickelberry, who started to find his rhythm. A 15-4 run – sparked by Nickelberry's 11 points in that span – saw the Explorers lead climb to 75-62.
  • The run spanned to 21-5, the Explorers scoring the last nine points of the contest to walk out with their third-straight win inside Gola in 84-65 fashion.
 
GAME NOTES
  • Daeshon Shepherd got his first taste in an Explorer uniform, entering into the game at the 16:10 mark in the first half. The rookie tallied seven points in seven minutes in the opening frame – a perfect 3-3 from the field.
  • Josh Nickelberry came out from his slump, missing 16 straight shots over the span of four games before dropping 10 points for a game-high in the first half. The Fayettesville, N.C. native finished with a career-high 28 points for a game-high on 10-18 shooting, 4-10 from behind the arc. Nickelberry added a career-high eight rebounds to his afternoon. Nickelberry's 28 points are the most for an Explorer since Isaiah Deas dropped 31 against Morgan State on Dec. 14, 2019.
  • Clifton Moore produced one of his best performances in an Explorer jersey, finishing with career-highs in points (15) and assists (4), while marking a season-high eight rebounds against the Crusaders. The shot blocking senior finished with five swats, one short of the career-best he set against Army West Point.
  • Christian Ray continues to dominate the glass, finishing with 12 karoms to lead the team. This marks the third game of the season in double-digit rebounding with back-to-back games with 12 boards.
  • Despite picking up early foul trouble, Anwar Gill had an efficient day with nine points on 4-5 shooting, adding four rebounds, three assists and two steals in just over 18 minutes.
  • La Salle moves to 9-1 all time when shooting more than 50% from the field under Coach Howard, the Explorers finishing with a blistering 34-63 (54.0%) from the field. Holy Cross was held to just 22-59 (37.3%).
  • The Explorers also dominated the glass with a +17 advantage in rebounds (45-28), a 12-7 tally on the offensive side of the ball that lead to a 10-4 margin in second chance points.
  • La Salle is now 3-0 on the season on Saturday, unblemished in afternoon games. The Blue and Gold are also undefeated when holding opponents to 65 points or under.
  • The 84 points are a season-best, 17 more than their next highest total in regulation (67 against UAlbany).
 
UP NEXT
  • The Explorers make a quick turnaround before facing Fairleigh Dickinson back at Tom Gola Arena - the second of three-straight matchups on 20th and Olney – on Tuesday evening.
  • Tip is slated for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
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