PHILADELPHIA – Senior guard Khalil Brantley recorded the second double-double of his career, putting up 18 points and grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds, but the La Salle men's basketball team (11-12, 2-8 A-10) dropped its matchup with the Saint Louis Billikens (9-14, 2-8 A-10), 102-84 on Wednesday night.
 
Brantley was one of three Explorers in double figures, with sophomore forward Rokas Jocius putting up a career-high in points for the second straight game, pouring in 19. Senior Anwar Gill scored a new season-high, with 24 points including 8-10 from the line.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half

• Saint Louis scored the first seven points of the game, building a 7-0 lead. Jocius scored the first points of the contest for La Salle off a layup.
• Despite a Saint Louis bucket, Jocius continued to keep La Salle in the game early, drilling a three-pointer heading into the first media timeout (9-5, SLU).
• The teams traded baskets throughout the first ten minutes, the Billikens were unable to stretch the lead past seven points. Gill scored five straight points for the Explorers (21-16, SLU).
• Saint Louis scored the next eight points to build an 11 point lead, 27-16.
• La Salle found its feet from the field again via a three pointer from Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi.
• The later portion of the first half featured fast-paced, back and forth action. SLU maintained its lead despite several pushes from the Explorers to cut the lead into single digits. The Billikens took a 12 point advantage into the break, 51-39.
• Gill ended the half with 16 points and four rebounds, leading the game in both.

Second Half

• Saint Louis came out of the break drilling three pointers on three straight possessions (60-42, SLU). La Salle countered with a pair of three-point plays from Brantley and Andres Marrero.
• The Explorers got hot from the field and began to cut into the lead. Brantley and Jocius combined for 12 straight points going into the under 12 media timeout (73-59, SLU).
• Marrero hit a pair of free throws to trim the lead down to 12 points, but Saint Louis came back on the other end with a couple of three pointers to put the deficit back at 18, 79-61.
• Despite a fantastic offensive effort from a host of Explorers, La Salle could not cut deep into the SLU advantage.
• Saint Louis crossed the century marker with 2:06 remaining on the clock. The visitors took the win by a score of 102-84.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Gill's season-high of 24 points is the most the senior has put up since last season when he scored 26 in an 84-81 victory overtime victory at Penn.
• Brantley recorded the second double-double of his career, with 18 points and 10 rebounds. The guard scored in double figures for the fourth straight game. It is the 16^th time this season and 55^th time in his career.
• The Explorers had another strong day in terms of ball control, with just 10 turnovers. La Salle has not turned the ball over more than 12 times in a game since its win over Fordham on January 6.
• Sincere Parker scored a game-high 33, shooting 10-14 from the field. He was one of four Billikens in double-figures.
• Tommy Gardler scored his first points since the Explorers' record setting 107-41 win against Rosemont in December.

UP NEXT

• The Explorers hit the road to face Richmond at the Robins Center on Saturday.
• Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 and the game will be aired live on ESPN+.