VILLANOVA, Pa. — The La Salle men's basketball team opened the 2022-22 season against Philadelphia Big 5 rival Villanova, but the No. 16 Wildcats spoiled its first game of the season and the debut of head coach Fran Dunphy '70 by posting an 81-68 victory at Finneran Pavilion.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Explorers had a hard time against the Wildcats in the first half, as the Wildcats shot a blistering 66.7 percent from three-point range (6-for-9) and 53.8 percent overall (14-for-26). Conversely, the Explorers shot 30 percent from three (3-for-10) and 31 percent from the field (9-for-29).
• The Wildcats' hot shooting allowed them to take a 37-23 lead at halftime.
• In the second half, the Explorers opened it with a 8-6 run in the first 2:42, thanks to Josh Nickelberry hitting a three and converting on a three-point play after making a layup following a Villanova foul.
• After Villanova's lead swelled to 62-42 following a 14-8 Wildcats run, the Explorers managed to cut the deficit to 13 after putting together an 8-0 run via a Nickelberry three, a Hassan Drame three, and an Anwar Gill layup in the lane.
• The Explorers trimmed the Wildcats' lead to 11 twice in the final five minutes of the game. The first time was when La Salle made it 69-58 after Drame made his second three in a row with 5:04 remaining. The second time was at 71-60 with 3:01 left after Nickelberry made a pair of free throws.
• However, the Wildcats went on a 7-0 run over the next minute and a half to secure the victory.

 
GAME NOTES

• Nickelberry led the Explorers with 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including 5-for-9 from beyond the arc. The senior guard now has five career 20-point games and has scored in double figures in 15 career contests.
• Drame made a solid debut for La Salle, chipping in 17 points — 11 of which came in the second half. The senior transfer from Saint Peter's, which he helped get to the Elite Eight last year, also tied Nickelberry for the team lead in rebounds with six on the night.
• Khalil Brantley was the only other La Salle player in double figures, as the sophomore scored 11 points.
• The Explorers have gone 5-6 in their last 11 season openers.
• The Explorers' most recent season-opening win was against Iona to kick off the 2019-20 campaign. The Explorers knocked off Iona, 70-64, in overtime.
• In one of the most anticipated coaching debuts in La Salle men's basketball history, Dunphy saw his record in season openers drop to 18-13 in the loss.
• Dunphy, who is the all-time winningest head coach in Big 5 history, now owns a 58-56 record against Big 5 programs.

 
UP NEXT

• The Explorers will gear up for their Homecoming weekend clash with Wagner on Saturday inside Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center.
• Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.