ST. LOUIS — The La Salle men's basketball team fought hard against Saint Louis, but the Billikens pulled away in the second half to earn an 84-71 victory on Saturday in its nationally televised Atlantic 10 game at Chaifetz Arena.
With the loss, the Explorers fell to 2-4 in A-10 play and 8-11 overall.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Explorers played well in the first half. With the game tied at 7 with 15:30 remaining, the Explorers put together an 10-2 run over the next four minutes to take a 17-9 lead. Khalil Brantley hit a jumper, Jhamir Brickus knocked down a three-pointer, and Anwar Gill made a layup in the lane on three straight La Salle possessions to highlight the run.
- The Explorers kept up their great play by taking a 25-15 lead with 9:25 remaining after Josh Nickelberry made a three, Brickus scored a layup in the lane, and Gill made a layup after Nickelberry grabbed an offensive rebound.
- However, the Billikens went on an 18-7 run to close the half and take a 33-32 lead into halftime.
- In the second half, the Explorers grabbed the lead again, as Brantley scored two quick baskets on a jumper and a layup to put them ahead 36-33 with 18:15 left.
- The Explorers pushed their lead to 39-33 with 16:54 remaining after Fousseyni Drame knocked down a triple.
- Unfortunately, the Billikens went on a 12-0 run to take a 45-39 lead with 13:05 to go.
- The Explorers did trim the deficit down to 45-43 with 11:59 left after Gill converted a pair of free throws and Daeshon Shepherd made a layup after grabbing two offensive rebounds.
- But, the Billikens went up by double digits by going on a 15-6 run to take a 60-49 lead with 7:46 left.
- La Salle kept fighting, as it got Saint Louis' advantage down to eight with 5:10 left after Shepherd grabbed another offensive rebound, made a layup while getting fouled, and converted the ensuing free throw.
- However, the Billikens made a jumper and a three-pointer on back-to-back possessions to go up by 13 with 3:15 left to put the game out of reach.
GAME NOTES
- Shepherd posted his first career double-double, as he finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The sophomore guard/forward set career highs in both points and rebounds.
- With Shepherd's double-double, it marked the second straight game that an Explorer had a double-double.
- Fousseyni Drame led La Salle with 14 points. The senior forward also pulled down seven rebounds.
- Brantley and Gill also scored in double figures for the Explorers, chipping in 13 and 11 points, respectively.
- Gill had a career-day on the defensive end, registering four blocks.
- Brantley and Brickus paced the team with five assists apiece.
UP NEXT
- The Explorers head home to host Davidson on Tuesday night in another A-10 game at Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
