FAIRFAX, Va. – The La Salle men's basketball team saw its Atlantic 10-best five-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday afternoon after losing a tough 70-66 contest to George Mason at EagleBank Arena.
The Explorers dropped to 7-7 in A-10 play and 13-14 overall. The Explorers are currently in seventh in the A-10 standings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Explorers saw Hassan Drame hit two quick 3-pointers in the first four minutes of the game, but the Patriots managed to take a 9-6 lead into the first media timeout.
- After the Patriots increased their lead to 16-8 with 13:19 remaining, the Explorers went on an 8-0 run to tie the game with 10:54 left. Khalil Brantley scored five points, while Josh Nickelberry buried a triple from the right side to knot up the game.
- After the Patriots put together a 6-0 run to regain the lead, the Explorers managed to go ahead, 26-23, with 6:45 remaining after Anwar Gill knocked down a 3-pointer, Jhamir Brickus made a layup following a steal, and Fousseyni Drame hit a 3-pointer.
- However, the Patriots outscored the Explorers, 10-6, in the final 6:45 to take a 33-32 lead into halftime.
- In the second half, Brickus gave the Explorers a 39-33 lead with 17:35 remaining after putting together his own 7-0 run in which he made a jumper outside the paint, a 3-pointer and a step back jumper.
- From there, the Explorers went back and forth with George Mason for the next eight minutes, maintaining a four-point lead on three occasions.
- After George Mason trimmed the Explorers' lead to one, Brantley hit another timely jumper to put La Salle ahead 54-51 with 6:16 remaining.
- Unfortunately, George Mason went on a 7-0 run to take a 58-54 lead with 4:01 left.
- The Explorers didn't give up, though, as they managed to tie the game twice. The Explorers went on a 4-0 run to tie it at 58 with 3:09 left after Brantley made a pull up jumper and Brickus made a layup. Then, after George Mason made a pair of free throws, Brantley came back down and drove to the hoop for an easy layup to tie it at 60 with 2:28 left.
- However, the Patriots put together a 5-0 run to take a 65-60 lead after hitting a 3-pointer and making a pair of foul shots.
- The Explorers made one last effort to come back after Brickus made a free throw and Brantley fought his way to the basket for a layup to make it a 65-63 contest with 57 seconds left.
- Unfortunately, George Mason made a free throw, the Explorers had a 3-point shot blocked on their next possession and a second-chance layup did not go in the hoop, leading to George Mason grabbing the rebound and making a layup down the other end to seal the win.
GAME NOTES
- Brantley scored 20 or more points for the fourth time in his career. The sophomore guard also led La Salle with five assists in the contest.
- Brickus also finished in double figures, scoring 15 points — 12 of which came in the second half.
- Daeshon Shepherd grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds to lead La Salle in that department. The sophomore guard/forward surpassed his previous high of 10, which he had against Saint Louis on Jan. 18.
- The Explorers managed to outrebound George Mason, 43-40, in the game.
- The Explorers had a tough time at the free throw line, going 5-for-13 (38.5 percent).
UP NEXT
- The Explorers will come back to the friendly confines of Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center to host Duquesne in another A-10 matchup on Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
