PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men's basketball team (4-0, A-10 0-0) claimed victory in its first Big 5 pod game of the season, defeating the Drexel Dragons (2-2, 0-0 CAA), 71-68. With the win, La Salle will face Temple on Nov. 30 at John Glaser Arena for a chance to play in the Big 5 Classic title game.
 
The victory moves the Explorers to 4-0 for a second straight season. This is the first time La Salle men's basketball has begun consecutive seasons 4-0 since the 1967-68 and 1968-69 seasons when Fran Dunphy played guard for the blue and gold.
 
Explorers' fans can follow the team on X/Twitter @LaSalle_MBB and Instagram @lasallembb.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half

• Both teams came out hot in the first four minutes, with the Explorers hitting 71% from the field. Demetrius Lilley scored six of La Salle's first ten points, including two threes.
• Jahlil White hit an and-1 to give the Explorers a 13-6 lead. Drexel hit a layup before a 10-second violation and three-pointer from Corey McKeithan put La Salle in the driver's seat, 16-8.
• McKeithan's bucket jump started a 10-0 La Salle run. After a pair of free throws from Lilley was followed by White's second three pointer of the season to build the advantage to 21-8. A block from Lilley a couple of possessions later set up the run to be capped off by a thunderous slam by Daeshon Shepherd to send the Explorer into the under 12 media timeout up 15 points.
• The Dragons began to find the basket again, but the Explorers kept the offensive pressure up with five straight points from McKeithan to keep Drexel at bay, 28-13.
• Drexel began to catch up, scoring 12 of the next 15 points to shave the lead down to six points, 31-25 with 3:30 remaining on the board. Andres Marrero scored the lone bucket during this stretch, a three pointer.
• The game exploded into a heated back-and-forth down the stretch. White scored four straight points to put the lead back into double digits, 35-25. Drexel countered with six of its own.
• La Salle sprinted to the finish, scoring eight of the last 11 to take a double digit lead into the half. White scored on an and-one and McKeithan drained another three to give the Explorers a 43-31 lead going into the break.

 
Second Half

• Drexel played fast and furious early in the second.  Following a half-opening three from Marrero, the Dragons scored the next ten points to cut the lead down to two, 46-44.  
• Shepherd hit a free throw and Lilley slammed the ball home to build the lead back to five, Drexel converted a second-chance bucket to send the team separated by three, 49-46 entering the first media timeout.
• The game picked up a frantic pace. The teams traded buckets, with Lilley and White adding to the total for the Explorers. As the game entered the under-12 timeout, La Salle held a one point lead, 53-52.
• The teams continued to match each other blow for blow. La Salle knocked down six free throws in a two minute span to take a 61-56 lead with 9 minutes remaining.
• Both sides played vicious defense, with just one field goal each being converted on each side in an over two-minute span. The Explorers led 63-58 at the under eight timeout.
• After two scoreless minutes, Drexel sandwiched a McKeithan bucket with two of its own. The game phased back into a stalemate for another two minutes, 65-62. The Dragons finally evened the score at 65 with 3:31 on the board.
• Shepherd forced La Salle back in the driver's seat off a block from White, 67-65, with 1:57 remaining on the board. The Dragons retook the lead on the next possession off a three ball.
• The teams battled down the stretch, with neither side able to pull in front.
• With :22 seconds left, McKeithan corralled his own missed shot and found Lilley waiting on the other side of the rim for an easy layup to put La Salle in front. On the final play of the game, the Explorers secured a tipped ball, forcing a jump ball with the possession arrow favoring La Salle, clinching the win.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• La Salle won the assist battle, 16-14.
• Lilley recorded the first double-double of his career along with a career-high in scoring, 18 points and 11 rebounds.
• McKeithan racked up 17 points, his fourth straight game in double-figures. He also set a season-high in assists with six.
• White scored a season-high 19 points while hitting 7-9 from the field and 4-4 from the line.

 
UP NEXT

• La Salle heads to Daytona Beach for the Boardwalk Battle. The first game will take place on Thursday at 1p vs UC San Diego. The game will stream on BallerTV.