PHILADELPHIA – Josh Nickelberry had a career-high 28 points, but it was not enough to help the La Salle men's basketball team come away with a win on Wednesday night as it fell to Duquesne, 91-74, at Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center.
The Explorers dropped to 7-8 in A-10 play and 13-15 overall. The Explorers are currently in eighth in the A-10 standings, while Duquesne remains in fifth after improving to 9-6.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Explorers got down early, as they trailed 10-2 through the first four minutes after the Dukes went on an 8-0 run following Fousseyni Drame's jumper that tied the game at 2.
- Nine minutes later, the Explorers cut the deficit to 23-20 after Nickelberry came off the bench and nailed two 3-pointers during an 11-3 run.
- Then, the Explorers took a 28-26 lead with 4:26 remaining after Nickelberry made his third 3-pointer, Rokas Jocius had a two-handed dunk, and Daeshon Shepherd scored on a reverse layup.
- However, the Dukes managed to outscore the Explorers, 15-10, over the final 4:26 after making a 3-pointer as time expired following Nickelberry's fourth three to take 41-38 lead into halftime.
- In the second half, the Explorers fell into a 51-40 hole after they allowed the Dukes to go on a 10-2 run to begin the half.
- La Salle managed to trim the deficit to 51-48 with 14:12 remaining after Nickelberry knocked down his fifth and sixth 3-pointers to spark an 8-0 run.
- Unfortunately, the Dukes outscored the Explorers, 40-23, in the final 14:12 to cruise to the win.
GAME NOTES
- Nickelberry's 28 points surpassed his season high and tied his career high. The senior guard also had 28 against Holy Cross on Dec. 4 2021. Before Wednesday night, Nickelberry had a 26-point game against Wake Forest on Nov. 18, 2022 in the first round of the Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic.
- Nickelberry finished the game going 6-for-11 (54.5 percent) from three-point range and 7-for-15 (46.7 percent) from the field overall.
- Hassan Drame and Fousseyni Drame also finished in double figures. Hassan finished with 12 points, while Fousseyni added 10.
- The Explorers' bench outscored the Dukes' bench, 40-31.
- Shepherd, Fousseyni Drame, and Khalil Brantley paced the Explorers with six rebounds apiece.
- Brantley had five assists to lead La Salle in that department.
UP NEXT
- The Explorers will head down to Washington D.C. to take on George Washington in another A-10 matchup on Saturday night. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
