ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Josh Nickelberry scored a game-high 18 points off the bench,
Mamadou Doucoure made a big basket down the stretch, and the La Salle men's basketball team earned a big road win by beating St. Bonaventure, 76-70, on Wednesday night at the Reilly Center.
With the win, the Explorers improved to 5-6 in A-10 play and 11-13 overall. The Explorers also handed the Bonnies only their third loss at home this season (10-3).
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Explorers got off to a slow start, as the Bonnies took a 7-4 lead through the first four minutes of the game. Fousseyni Drame and Hassan Drame scored two points apiece for the Explorers during that stretch.
- Then, the Explorers came back and took a 14-13 lead after going on a 10-6 run, highlighted by a Khalil Brantley 3-pointer that put them ahead.
- After the Bonnies went on a 10-5 run to go up 23-19 with 7:20 left, the Explorers saw Nickelberry and Andres Marrero catch fire from beyond the arch, as they combined for six threes. Nickelberry knocked down three of his four first-half 3-pointers, while Marrero made two to help La Salle take a 38-29 lead with 2:49 remaining.
- The Explorers finished the half by taking a 44-35 lead, with their 44 points being the most in a half this season.
- In the second half, the Bonnies managed to take a 66-65 lead with 5:54 left after outscoring the Explorers, 31-21.
- On the next possession, the Explorers saw Doucoure grab an offensive rebound off a missed layup and score on the putback attempt to put the Explorers ahead by one.
- Then with 1:40 left, Daeshon Shepherd pulled down an offensive rebound and passed the ball to Doucoure, who got fouled and made 1-of-2 free throws to put La Salle ahead by two.
- After Doucoure's missed foul shot. Brantley managed to steal the ball and find Doucoure for a short jumper in the lane to push La Salle's lead to 70-66 with 1:07 left
- From there, the Explorers put the game away by going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final minute.
GAME NOTES
- For the fourth straight game, Nickelberry has scored in double figures while coming off the bench. The senior guard has scored in double figures in 24 career games and led the team in scoring 14 times in his career. Nickelberry has averaged 15.5 points per game over his last four contests.
- Doucoure led the Explorers with a career-high 11 rebounds, including a game-high four offensive rebounds, in the victory. The graduate student forward's previous high was 10 against Fairleigh Dickinson back on Dec. 7, 2021.
- Brantley also scored in double figures for La Salle in the win, finishing with 16 points.
- The Explorers outscored the Bonnies' bench, 28-8, in the game.
- The Explorers shot a blistering 52.9 percent (9-for-17) from 3-point range in the first half.
- La Salle shot well from the field overall, going 28-for-54 to end the game at 51.9 percent.
- Brickus paced the Explorers with seven assists and added nine points.
UP NEXT
- The Explorers come home to face UMass for the second time this season on Saturday at Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center. The Explorers earned a 78-77 win in their first matchup against the Minutemen on Jan. 11. Tip-off for Saturday's game is set for 2 p.m.
