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La Salle University Athletics

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Corey McKeithan
82
Winner Saint Joseph's SJU 6-3,0-0 Atlantic 10
68
La Salle LaS 6-4,0-0 Atlantic 10
Winner
Saint Joseph's SJU
6-3,0-0 Atlantic 10
82
Final
68
La Salle LaS
6-4,0-0 Atlantic 10
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Saint Joseph's SJU 33 49 82
La Salle LaS 29 39 68

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men's Basketball Falls Short in Big 5 Title Game

PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men's basketball team fell to Atlantic-10 rival Saint Joseph's, 82-68, in the Big 5 Classic Championship game on Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center. The Explorers will finish second in the Big 5 standings, their best finish since the 2017-18 season.

La Salle started strong, but an injury to forward Demetrius Lilley, who scored 12 points in the first half, hampered their second-half comeback efforts. Freshman Deuce Jones led the Explorers with 19 points.

Explorers' fans can follow the team on X/Twitter @LaSalle_MBB and Instagram @LaSalleMBB.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Half

  • Saint Joseph's scored just five points in the first three minutes of action.
  • Five points from Lilley helped La Salle swing the game back in their favor. The Explorers trailed 11-9 by the second media timeout.
  • The two teams battled for control, with the Hawks eventually taking an 18-13 lead. Lilley hit a three-pointer, and Daeshon Shepherd added a jumper to tie the game at 18.
  • Saint Joseph's converted on five of its next six field goals, taking a 30-23 lead and forcing a La Salle timeout with two minutes left in the half.
  • Lilley continued to dominate, scoring four straight points. Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi followed with a layup to cut the lead to 30-29.
  • The Hawks made an and-one basket with one second left on the clock to take a 33-29 lead into the locker room.

Second Half

  • Saint Joseph's opened the second half with a 16-5 run, forcing a La Salle timeout.
  • The Hawks continued to build their lead, going up by as many as 16 points at 61-45. The Explorers refused to back down, with five points from Corey McKeithan cutting into the deficit.
  • Saint Joseph's stayed hot, shooting 62% from the field in the second half and keeping the pressure on.
  • Despite valiant efforts from several Explorers, the shorthanded La Salle team ultimately fell to the Hawks, 82-68.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

  • McKeithan set a career-high with seven rebounds.
  • Shepherd tied his career-high with three steals.

UP NEXT

  • La Salle will hit the road to face the North Carolina Tar Heels next Saturday at 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast on The CW.
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