BRONX, N.Y. – Struggling from the field through most of the first half, the La Salle men's basketball team was unable to propel itself in the second half in a 60-54 defeat to Fordham inside Rose Hill Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.
La Salle falls to 7-18 on the season and 2-13 in conference play, while Fordham is now 13-13 and 6-8 in A-10 play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The two teams traded just five points in the opening four minutes, Christian Ray's three the only points scored by the Explorers for an early 5-3 deficit.
- Khalil Brantley showed a shimmy at the basket to fight off a Ram defender, finishing with his left hand to cut the Fordham lead to two. The Rams responded, knocking off nine straight points to give a 21-10 advantage with just over six minutes in the first half. The Rams would hold that 11 point lead into the break, leading the Explorers 27-16 at the break.
- The Explorers surged back to open the second half, quickly getting a triple from Jack Clark.
- Ray later led a 14-2 charge, scoring 10 points in the run to nearly erase the deficit at 36-35.
- The two teams traded baskets before the hosts made another run, able to extend their advantage to 45-37 with six minutes to play.
- Clark once again cut the deficit to one possession after being left open for a wide open three, but a quick four point spurt from the hosts distances themselves from the Explorers yet again.
- La Salle was unable to close the gap as the hosts completed the sweep with a 60-54 win over the Explorers.
GAME NOTES
- The 16 points scored in the first half was a season-low for the Explorers, breaking the 17 points scored in the opening half against Villanova.
- Ray scored a team-high 13 points against the Rams, breaking a 14-game drought of not scoring in double-figures. Ray also led the team with seven rebounds.
- In his first game in the Bronx, Brantley tallied 12 points and three rebounds in his homecoming.
- Clifton Moore finished with three blocks, pushing his season total to 66, moving past Lionel Simmons in program history for sole possession of fourth in single-season history. His nine points fell one short of eclipsing double-digits, cutting a 14-game streak of clipping at least 10 points in a contest.
- Shooting just 24% from the field and 7% from distance in the first half, the Explorers finished 38.0% and 21.7%, respectively. La Salle held Fordham to just 37.3% from the field, but fell victim to a 38-32 deficit on the glass that turned into a 14-3 advantage in second chance points.
UP NEXT
- The Explorers make their way back to Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center, hosting Dayton after a four-game road trip on Saturday, February 26.
- La Salle will honor its four seniors – Jack Clark, Clifton Moore, Kyle Thompson and Andrew Lafond – prior to the 2 p.m. tip.