PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle men's basketball team defeated the Davidson Wildcats, 79-76 at John Glaser Arena on Wednesday night for its second straight Atlantic-10 victory of the season. Despite starting the game down by as many as 17, clutch shooting from behind the arc in the second half, paired with stellar defense play, led the Explorers to complete the comeback and even its conference record to 2-2.
 
Deuce Jones led all scorers with 23 points, tying his career-high. It is second straight huge performance following his buzzer-beater against St. Bonaventure on Saturday.


HOW IT HAPPENED

First Half:

• The Wildcats built an early 20-7 lead, hitting 73% from the field in the first six minutes.
• The contest stabilized as La Salle found its footing from the field. Jones played a key role with 11 first half points.

• Davidson led by as many as 15 points in the first half, but the Explorers refused to go away. Jones drilled a huge three pointer to end the half with the score, La Salle went into the locker room down 41-33.

 
Second Half:

• La Salle sliced the lead to three points early on, after Corey McKeithan made a quick pair of buckets to get it to 45-42.
• Davidson extended its lead to nine, only for the Explorers to follow with the next six points courtesy of a Mac Etienne layup and a pair of baskets from Jahlil White to make it 56-53.
• The Explorers got its first lead of the game with 9:36 remaining as Daeshon Shepherd buried a corner three.
• The shots would keep on coming for the Blue and Gold, as the team went on a 19-2 run to go up by nine with 5:58 left. Jones scored seven points during the run.
• After the Wildcats got it to within five, Shepherd buried his third triple with 1:10 left to make it 73-65.
• The Explorers withstood a last-ditch Davidson effort in the final minute, closing out with a three-point win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Jones made it two straight games with a buzzer-beater three, hitting a triple as time expired in the opening half.
• Down nine with 13:22 remaining, the Explorers went on a 19-2 run, shooting 60% during that span.
• Etienne had a phenomenal showing on both sides of the ball, shooting 60% from the field and recording 14 rebounds, setting a new career-high.
• Shepherd impressed with 19 points, his second straight game in double-figures.
• Jones set a career-high in field goals made with nine and tied his career-high in points with 23. He also set a career-high in assists with five.

NEXT UP
Next up, the Explorers travel to New England for a Sunday contest against UMass. The game will tip at 2:00 p.m. on USA Network.