PHILADELPHIA — The La Salle men's basketball team held a one-point lead through the first 20 minutes of play, but Davidson came back in the second half to come away with a 64-57 victory over the Explorers in their Atlantic 10 game on Tuesday night at Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center.
With the loss, the Explorers fell to 2-5 in A-10 play and 8-12 overall.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Explorers played well in the first half. They managed to take a 18-15 lead with 7:06 remaining after going on a 9-5 run. Daeshon Shepherd sparked the run with a three-pointer, then Fousseyni Drame and Andres Marrero followed with back-to-back jumpers.
- Then, the Explorers extended their advantage to 25-18 – their biggest lead of the night — after Hassan Drame and Marrero hit back-to-back threes following a Shepherd made free throw.
- However, the Explorers went into halftime with a 33-32 lead after Davidson went on a 14-8 run to close the half. Khalil Brantley made a three-pointer and Hassan Drame converted a pair of free throws to keep La Salle ahead at the break.
- In the second half, the Explorers pushed their lead back up to five with 18:14 remaining after Mamadou Doucoure made a hook shot in the paint and Fousseyni Drame scored on a fast break layup after stealing the ball.
- Unfortunately, the Wildcats went on a 10-4 run over the next five minutes to take a 42-41 lead.
- La Salle kept fighting, as it managed to grab the lead back after Hassan Drame made a pair of free throws to make it a 43-42 advantage with 13:30 left.
- However, the Wildcats managed to regain the lead and pull away by outscoring La Salle, 22-14 in the final 13:30 of the game to earn the win. The closest the Explorers got to the Wildcats was down to a 50-48 deficit with 10:27 after Shepherd made a layup and a free throw after getting fouled.
GAME NOTES
- Shepherd led La Salle with a career-high 14 points — nine of which came in the second half. The sophomore guard/forward surpassed his previous high of 12, which came against Saint Louis last Saturday.
- The Explorers also saw Hassan Drame, Fousseyni Drame and Marrero each score in double figures. Hassan Drame had 11 points, Fousseyni added 10, and Marrero chipped in 10 as well.
- Fousseyni Drame, Doucoure and Marrero paced the Explorers in rebounds, grabbing six apiece.
- Hassan Drame added a team-high three steals for La Salle.
UP NEXT
- The Explorers go on the road on Saturday to face Rhode Island for the second time in three weeks. The Explorers topped the Rams, 77-75, in overtime on Jan. 7 at home. Tip-off for Saturday's game is set for 2 p.m.
