Men's Basketball | January 31, 2024
Box Score KINGSTON, R.I. - Junior
Khalil Brantley became the 59th player in La Salle men's basketball history to score 1,000 career points, but the Explorers fell on the road at Rhode Island, 71-69, on Wednesday night. Brantley scored a team-high 19 points to lead a trio of La Salle players in double figures.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Explorers jumped out to an early lead, connecting on three triples over the first four minutes of action.
- A layup by Jhamir Brickus put La Salle in front 13-6 at the 14:06 mark of the opening half.
- Nine straight points by the Rams erased the lead and gave the home team a 15-13 advantage.
- With the score tied at 21-21, URI scored seven straight and went into the locker room with a seven-point advantage at 36-29.
- La Salle began the second half strong, scoring six of the first eight points to pull to within three, as Rokas Jocius converted back-to-back layups.
- A three from Brickus at the 13:22 mark gave the Explorers a 45-43 lead, before the Rams responded with four straight to regain the lead.
- Rhode Island would not relinquish the advantage again, despite every effort by La Salle down the stretch.
- Brantley went to the line for one-and-one with less than three seconds remaining and made the first before purposely missing the second.
- Unfortunately for La Salle, the ball bounded outside the paint and was loose as time expired.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- In addition to Brantley, Daeshon Shepherd and Brickus had 14 points apiece.
- Jocius registered eight points and a career-high 13 rebounds, including six on the offensive end.
- David Green led URI with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting.
- Foul shooting was a thorn in the side of the Explorers on the night, as they went just 9-for-18 from the charity stripe.
UP NEXT
- La Salle hosts rival Saint Joseph's on Saturday, Feb. 3, with tipoff set for 12:00 p.m.
- The game will air live on ESPNU.
- The first 500 students in attendance will receive a free t-shirt, courtesy of presenting sponsor Independence Blue Cross. Fans are also encouraged to wear white.
