OLEAN, N.Y. – The La Salle men's basketball team will look to get back in the win column as the Explorers face the St. Bonaventure Bonnies on the road in a rematch of last season's Atlantic-10 tournament thriller. Tip-off is set for noon on Saturday.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and YES Network. The game audio will also be streamed with Kale Beers providing play-by-play. Additionally, Explorers fans can follow the team on X/Twitter @LaSalle_MBB and Instagram @LaSalleMBB.
LAST TIME OUT - LA SALLE 68, LOYOLA CHICAGO 79
- La Salle fell to the Loyola Chicago Ramblers, 78-69 on Wednesday night.
- The first half was a back-and-forth affair. Corey McKeithan scored 18 of La Salle's first 22 points. A buzzer-beating three by the Ramblers put the visitors up 40-32 heading into the locker room.
- Loyola maintained a substantial margin before a run led by Eric Acker and Jahlil White trimmed the lead to three points with 12 minutes to go. Unfortunately for La Salle, the scoring dried up allowing Loyola to build a double-digit lead as time wound down.
- McKeithan led all scorers with 24 points. Demetrius Lilley led all players on the glass with 11 boards.
NEWS AND NOTES
- Wednesday's loss to Loyola was the first the Explorers have taken at John E. Glaser Arena. La Salle was previously 6-0 at home.
- Rebounding has been established as the Explorers' calling card this season. La Salle ranks second in the A-10 in rebounding (39.3), its most rebounds per game since 1990-91 (40.2). The Explorers check in at 45th nationally in the category. After the Immaculata game on Dec. 21, the Explorers have recorded two games with over 50 rebounds for the first time since 2011 (4).
- La Salle has also been explosive on the offensive end. The Explorers rank fifth in the Atlantic-10 in both scoring (77.4) and pace of play (71.1).
- After a pair of down games in December, guard Corey McKeithan has found his stride on offense once again. He has scored in double figures in three straight games, and has exceeded ten points in 12 of La Salle's 15 games. Wednesday's contest was the sixth time this season McKeithan has scored more than 20 points, tied for third in the league. He ranks 7th in the conference in scoring (17.3 ppg).
- Demetrius Lilley is pulling down 7.1 boards per game, ranking 10th in the Atlantic-10. Lilley is in the midst of the best rebounding season by an Explorer since Ed Croswell in 2019-20.
- Daeshon Shepherd is second on the team in scoring, adding 11.1 points per game.
- Deuce Jones has impressed in his rookie campaign. He became the first Explorer to win Rookie of the Week twice in the same season since 2011-12 in December. Jones leads the A-10 in assists amongst freshmen (2.2 apg) and is second in scoring (9.3 ppg).
- Jahlil White rounds out the starting five. The graduate transfer from Temple is averaging 10.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. He reached double-figures for the first time since November, with 15 points against Loyola Chicago.
- Acker has found his rhythm after sitting out the first 10 games of the season. He is averaging 13.0 points and 2.6 assists per game in his first five games. In his last two, the LIU transfer is averaging 16.0 points and 2.5 assists.
SCOUTING ST. BONAVENTURE
- St. Bonaventure is having one of its best seasons in recent history, with a 14-2 record including a 7-0 mark at home.
- Missouri State transfer Chance Moore has made a huge impact in his first season with the Bonnies. He leads the team in both points (15.2) and rebounds (7.6).
- Mark Schmidt leads the Bonnies in his 18th season. He is 398-318 overall and 316-228 in Olean.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST ST. BONAVENTURE
- La Salle have faced off 38 times, with the Explorers holding a 20-18 advantage.
- The two met twice last season. La Salle took the regular season meeting, 72-59, Shepherd scored a then career-high 23 points in the win.
- The two met in an instant classic in the second round of the Atlantic-10 tournament, with the Bonnies winning at the buzzer, 75-73.
