DAYTONA BEACH, FL. – The La Salle men's basketball team (4-1, A-10 0-0) dropped for the first time this season in its opening game of the Boardwalk Battle in Daytona Beach, Fla against the UC San Diego Tritons (3-2, 0-0 Big West), 72-67. The Explorers will play tomorrow at 11 a.m. against the UIC Flames.
 
Corey McKeithan led the way for the Explorers with 21 points.
 
Explorers' fans can follow the team on X/Twitter @LaSalle_MBB and Instagram @lasallembb.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half

• UC San Diego came out white hot, taking an early 14-3 lead and forcing an Explorer timeout with 15:39 remaining. Jahlil White had the first three points for La Salle.
• The Tritons extended their lead to 17-3 after a second chance bucket. La Salle roared back thanks to dominance on the glass. The Explorers scored the next nine points to trim the deficit to 17-12. Four different La Sallian's scored for the Blue & Gold.
• Scoring ground to a halt as both sides struggled to find the bottom of the net. From 10 to 4 minutes remaining the teams combined for nine total points. The Tritons held a 24-18 lead heading into the under-four minute media timeout.
• The score picked up a frantic pace in the final minutes of the first half. UCSD held a 28-21 lead with 2:32 left on the clock.
• McKeithan drilled back-to-back three-pointers to cut the lead to one with a minute and a half remaining.
• Daeshon Shepherd hit a turnaround jumper with six seconds remaining to give the Explorers a 31-30 lead going into the half.

Second Half

• McKeithan nailed a three out of the break to kick off an action-packed first four minutes of action. UC San Diego held a 40-37 lead going into the under-16 timeout.
• The teams continued to trade blows as scoring again slowed. The Explorers retook the lead off a three-pointer from McKeithan with 12:43 left on the board.
• The two sides battled in a back-and-forth, trading the lead several times in only a few minutes. McKeithan hit three free throws to secure a 54-51 advantage for La Salle.
• UCSD began to get out in front as La Salle got stuck at 54 points, missing five straight from the field. Three-pointers on consecutive possessions for the Tritons put the Explorers down seven points, 64-57.
• La Salle could not close the gap down the stretch, the Tritons took the victory, 72-67.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• La Salle moves to 1-2 all-time in Daytona Beach. The Explorers previously played in the 1986 Hawaiian Tropic Classic in the area, defeating Eastern Kentucky and falling to Georgia.
• Demetrius Lilley grabbed 12 rebounds, his second consecutive games in double-figures and third on the season.
• McKeithan dazzled with 21 points. He has scored double digits in every game this season. It is his second game scoring over 20.
• Jahlil White scored 13 points, his fourth game in double figures this season.
• Mac Etienne scored a season-high nine points, one short of his career-high. His seven rebounds also fall one short of his career-high.
• Deuce Jones set a new career mark in rebounds with eight.

 
UP NEXT

• La Salle will play its second game of the Boardwalk Battle, against UIC at 11 a.m. tomorrow. The game will stream on BallerTV.