BRONX, N.Y. – Sophomore Christian Ray had a near double-double with a career-high 18 points and nine rebounds, but it wasn't enough as the La Salle men's basketball team fell at Fordham in Atlantic 10 action Saturday, 76-68.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Ray tied the game at six in the early minutes on a layup and then put the Explorers ahead by four with a three-pointer and a free throw shortly after.
• The two squads went back-and-forth, with La Salle up 17-16 midway through after a jumper by senior David Beatty, but Fordham responded with a 12-2 run to go up 28-19 heading into the final media timeout of the first half.
• Another three by Ray brought the Explorers back within six, however, the Rams ended the period on a 9-2 run to go into the intermission with a 37-24 lead.
• Ray scored five quick points in the second half to get La Salle back within 10 before the Rams stretched their advantage to 45-31 with 16:34 on the clock.
• The Explorers made it a six-point difference on a pair of threes by sophomore Sherif Kenney, but Ty Perry hit two from beyond the arc as well to give Fordham a 10-point cushion once again.
• La Salle clawed back to make it 60-55 on a three from freshman Jhamir Brickus, forcing the Rams to burn a timeout with 5:27 to go, and remained within five, 71-66, as redshirt sophomore Jack Clark scored eight points over a 42-second span.
• Brickus came up with a steal and a breakaway layup to keep the Explorers within five with 51 seconds remaining, but La Salle couldn't get any closer than that.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Ray went 6-for-10 from the floor, including 2-of-3 from downtown, and handed out three assists as well, while Clark chipped in 16 points, four rebounds and two steals.
• Perry was the difference maker for Fordham, knocking down 6-of-9 three-pointers for 18 points off the bench. The Rams shot 44.0 percent from deep and 47.9 percent from the field overall while making 19-of-21 foul shots.
• La Salle shot 46.3 percent for the game but couldn't overcome a slow first half where the Explorers shot just 33.3 percent overall and 2-for-11 from three.

UP NEXT

• The Explorers will remain on the road for their next game, heading up to St. Bonaventure for a Wednesday contest set to tip off at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.