PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men's basketball team will begin its second three-game homestand this weekend as the Explorers face the Rhode Island Rams this Saturday at 2pm. This is La Salle's first weekend home contest in over a month. Following the game, fans are encouraged to join the La Salle community for postgame Mass.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+. 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 52, SAINT LOUIS 64
- After a strong 16 minutes which saw La Salle up eight points, a cold spell during the middle of the game buried the Explorers.
- La Salle made a push late, but could not close the gap to get back in the game. In a testament to the Blue & Gold offense, it marked the first time La Salle has scored under 60 points this season.
- Freshman sensation Deuce Jones impressed, reaching double figures for the fourth straight game and tying his career-high with three steals.
NEWS AND NOTES
- Ball possession has become a key component of the La Salle attack. La Salle is averaging the most possessions per contest of any Fran Dunphy team in the KenPom era, while also limiting turnovers. The Explorers turned the ball over only nine times against the Billikens.
- Rebounding has been established as the Explorers' calling card this season. La Salle ranks fifth in the A-10 in rebounding (38.6), its most rebounds per game since 1990-91 (40.2). The Explorers check in at 54th 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).
- Corey McKeithan leads La Salle in scoring with 15.5 points, good for 12th in the conference.
- Demetrius Lilley is pulling down 7.1 boards per game, ranking 9th in the Atlantic-10. Lilley is in the midst of the best rebounding season by an Explorer since Ed Croswell in 2019-20. The forward set a new career-high with three steals at St. Louis.
- Daeshon Shepherd is third on the team in scoring, adding 11.3 points per game. He has scored in double-figures in 13 of the Explorers' 18 games. Shepherd has grabbed seven or more rebounds in three of the last four games.
- Jones has dazzled in his rookie campaign. He became the first Explorer to win Rookie of the Week four times in the same season since 2002-03 when Gary Neal accomplished the same feat. Jones leads the A-10 in assists amongst freshmen (2.4 apg) and is second in scoring (10.7 ppg).
- Jahlil White rounds out the starting five. The graduate transfer from Temple is averaging 9.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
- Eric Acker has made a large impact off the bench after sitting out the first 10 games of the season. He is adding 9.7 points per game through his first nine games.
SCOUTING RHODE ISLAND
- Rhode Island began the season 11-1, but is 3-4 in its seven games. They most recently suffered an 81-57 defeat to VCU on Tuesday.
- The tandem of Sebastian Thomas and David Green lead the Rams. Thomas is leading the squad with 18.8 points per game, with Green contributing 15.0 points and 5.7 rebounds.
- Archie Miller leads the Rams in his third season, it is his 13th as a head coach. Miller has a 35-47 record with Rhody and a 241-168 mark overall.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST RHODE ISLAND
- La Salle and Rhode Island have shared a home in the A-10 since 1995 when Explorers joined the league. Rhode Island has been an A-10 member since 1980, four years after the conference was formed.
- The two have met 47 times on the floor. The Rams hold an 12-35 series lead.
- The two twice last season. Rhode Island took a nailbiter in Kingston, while La Salle blew out the Rams at Tom Gola Arena, 84-61.
