BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The La Salle men's basketball team (16-17, 6-12 A-10) fell to the St. Bonaventure Bonnies, (19-12, 9-9 A-10), 75-73 on Wednesday night in the second round of the A-10 Championships.
The Explorers rallied from being down as many as ten points in the second half to lead at several points down the stretch. La Salle had a chance to tie the game on the final possession, but a putback attempt from
Daeshon Shepherd fell short.
Explorers' fans can follow the team on X/Twitter @LaSalle_MBB and Instagram @lasallembb.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- Jhamir Brickus opened the game with a layup. St. Bonaventure countered, but Khalil Brantley drilled a three to put La Salle up 5-2. The Bonnies scored the next seven going into the first media timeout (9-5, Bona).
- Anwar Gill and Ryan Zan subbed in for the Explorers and immediately turned the tide with ferocious defense. La Salle's defense forced four turnovers in a two-and-a-half-minute span to tie the game at 11 all.
- St. Bonaventure got hot from the field, going on a 13-2 run to go up 22-13 with 7:25 remaining in the first.
- Shepherd scored five straight points to get La Salle back into the game, 22-18. The teams traded baskets for the next few minutes with neither side able gain a significant edge. St. Bonaventure took a 29-25 lead into the final media timeout of the half.
- The scoring came in bunches in the final four minutes of the frame. The teams exchanged buckets until the last minute when the Bonnies nailed a three to take a 42-34 lead into the break.
Second Half
- The scoring came slowly in the first five minutes, with only three total baskets finding the bottom of the net. Brantley and Gill scored for La Salle (44-38, La Salle).
- With the game at 48-40, the La Salle run began. Brickus sandwiched a St. Bonaventure basket to slice the lead down to five. The Bonnies came back with two points, but the Explorers exploded for a 7-0 run to tie the game at 52 with 11:36 remaining.
- La Salle took the lead via three free throws from Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi. St. Bonaventure tied the game at 55 a few minutes later and took a two-point lead with 7:44 on the clock.
- Anwar Gill scored four straight to give La Salle a 59-57 advantage. The teams exchanged three consecutive three-point plays, with the Bonnies holding a slim 63-62 lead heading into the final media timeout.
- The two sides continued to battle tooth and nail. The game was locked at 68 with 1:31 on the clock.
- The Bonnies got out to a four point lead, 74-70 with only :26 seconds remaining. Brickus was fouled and knocked down three free throws to pull La Salle within one. St. Bonaventure's Chad Venning went one of two from the line. On the final play of the game, Brickus misfired on a three point attempt. Shepherd skied for the put back, but missed the dunk to end the game.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
