PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men's basketball team will honor head coach
Fran Dunphy on Wednesday night as the Explorers host the Duquesne Dukes. Dunphy, who will coach his 1000
th game as a Division I head coach, will retire at the conclusion of the season. All fans who attend the game will receive a free
Fran Dunphy t-shirt to celebrate the Hall of Fame coach.
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 58, RICHMOND 63
- La Salle led the vast majority of the first half. Deuce Jones added an exclamation point at the end of the frame, hitting another buzzer-beater to conclude the half.
- After the teams traded the lead in the first 11 minutes of the second, a 9-0 run from the Spiders gave the team an eight-point lead. La Salle got within a point with thirty seconds left, but turned the ball over with a chance to take the lead.
- Several Explorers had strong performances, including Jones, Jahlil White, and Mac Etienne. La Salle as a whole turned the ball over only nine times, its lowest turnover output since 2/1/25 against George Washington.
NEWS AND NOTES
- Rebounding has been established as the Explorers' calling card this season. La Salle ranks fifth in the A-10 in rebounding (37.2), its most rebounds per game since 2010-11 (38.6). The Explorers rank in the top 100 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).
- The Explorers are fifth in the conference in turnover margin (+1.3) and fourth in turnovers (10.6).
- Corey McKeithan leads La Salle in scoring with 14.8 points, good for 14th in the conference. The guard has scored in double-figures in seven of his eight seven games.
- Demetrius Lilley is pulling down 6.2 boards per game, ranking 14th in the Atlantic-10. The forward reached double-figures against Rhode Island for the first time since the Explorers visited UMass in mid-January. He did not play against Richmond.
- Daeshon Shepherd is third on the team in scoring, adding 10.8 points per game. He has scored in double-figures in 18 of the Explorers' 27 games, including eight of the last twelve outings.
- Jones has dazzled in his rookie campaign. He holds the La Salle program record with his six Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Week awards. The guard leads the A-10 in both points (12.1) and assists (2.7) per game by a freshman. He has reached double-figures in each of the last three contests. Jones passed for a career-high seven assists against the Spiders.
- White had an impressive outing, recording his third double-double of the season on Wednesday against Richmond, with 10 points and a season-high tying 13 rebounds. He has reached double-figures in back-to-back games. He is averaging 9.7 points and 6.0 rebounds.
- Etienne has started nine games including the last eight. The redshirt junior set career-highs in points (14), field goals (7), and minutes (31) against Richmond.
SCOUTING DUQUESNE
- Duquesne is coming off a season to remember, winning its first conference title since 1977 and advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
- The Dukes are 11-16 and 6-8 in A-10 play. They have dropped two of their last three games.
- Chester, Pa. native Tre Dinkins III leads Duquesne in scoring with 12.7 points per game.
- Former associate head coach Dru Joyce III takes the reigns from longtime coach Keith Dambrot in his first season. Joyce was a high school teammate of LeBron James.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST DUQUESNE
- Duquesne is one of La Salle's oldest rivals outside the Big 5, having first met on the floor in 1940.
- La Salle holds a definitive edge in the series, leading 66-46.
- Last season, the two met in Pittsburgh. Despite leading at halftime, a second half surge from the Dukes sent the Explorers home with a loss. Shepherd scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the defeat.
