KINGSTON, R.I. — The La Salle men's basketball team held a 14-point lead with under 11 minutes left in the second half against Rhode Island, but the Rams rallied to earn a 72-70 win in their Atlantic 10 game on Saturday at the Thomas M. Ryan Center.
With the loss, the Explorers fell to 2-6 in A-10 play and 8-13 overall.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Looking to sweep the season series against the Rams after earning a 77-75 overtime win over them back on Jan. 7, the Explorers played incredibly well in the first half. They jumped out to an 8-2 lead with 16:34 remaining after Andres Marrero scored five points on a 3-pointer from the right wing and a layup off an offensive rebound, and Khalil Brantley made a 3-pointer.
- After the Rams managed to take a 15-13 lead with 11:10 left, the Explorers went on an 8-0 run, thanks to Josh Nickelberry coming off the bench and knocking down two quick 3-pointers to put La Salle ahead 21-15 with 8:22 remaining.
- Then, the Explorers extended the lead to 35-25 with 3:46 left after Nickelberry buried another triple following two hustle plays by Brantley and Daeshon Shepherd. Brantley stole the ball after Rhode Island got a defensive rebound and Shepherd grabbed an offensive rebound after a missed La Salle 3-pointer, then kicked it out to Nickelberry for the 3-pointer.
- The Explorers went into halftime leading, 40-29, after Nickelberry made 1-of-2 free throws and Brantley went down the lane uncontested for a layup with 20 seconds left.
- In the second half, the Explorers pushed their lead to 14 three times. The first time was with 19:23 remaining after Hassan Drame hit a 3-pointer to begin the half to put La Salle up 43-29. After Rhode Island made a layup on its second possession of the half, Mamadou Doucoure made layup after grabbing an offensive rebound to put the Explorers ahead by a 45-31 count. Then, with 10:44 left, the Explorers pushed their lead to 60-46 after putting together a quick 5-0 run in which Shepherd had a two-handed jam off a Nickelberry pass and Anwar Gill made a 3-pointer.
- Unfortunately, the Rams outscored the Explorers, 26-10, in the final 10:44 of the game to earn the win.
GAME NOTES
- Nickelberry led La Salle with 16 points — 13 of which came in the first half. The senior guard has led the team in scoring in a game 11 times in his career and has now scored in double figures 22 times in his time at La Salle.
- Brantley was the only other Explorer in double figures, scoring 15 points. The sophomore guard scored in double figures for La Salle for the 15th time in 19 games he has played this season.
- Brantley also led the team with six assists and three steals.
- The Explorers were on fire from 3-point range in the first half, making 9-of-17 from downtown, good for 52.9 percent.
UP NEXT
- The Explorers come back to Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center to host George Washington on Wednesday night. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
