PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men's basketball team closes out the road portion of the 2024-25 campaign this Wednesday at 7 p.m. as the Explorers take on the George Mason Patriots. This will be the final away game of Head Coach
Fran Dunphy's career as the Hall of Fame coach will retire at the conclusion of the season.
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 60, GEORGE WASHINGTON 71
- La Salle kept the game close most of the first half, trailing by only six points with five minutes remaining. A 13-2 run over the last 4:17 of the first half, buried the Explorers under a 42-25 margin at halftime.
- The blue & gold controlled the first 10 minutes of the second half, cutting the deficit to two points, 48-46, with 10:20 left in the game. The contest became a back-and-forth as the Revs attempted to pull away, but the Explorers refused to back down. A three-pointer from Corey McKeithan sliced the lead to four, 62-58 with three and a half minutes left.
- GW scored nine of the final 11 points to seal the win.
- McKeithan led La Salle with 20 points and six rebounds.
NEWS AND NOTES
- Rebounding has been established as the Explorers' calling card this season. La Salle ranks fifth in the A-10 in rebounding (36.9), 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 both in turnover margin (+1.2) and in turnovers (10.6).
- Corey McKeithan leads La Salle in scoring with 14.9 points, good for 13th in the conference. The guard has scored in double-figures in nine of his last ten games and six consecutive outings. Saturday was his seventh game, scoring 20 plus points.
- Daeshon Shepherd is third on the team in scoring, adding 10.5 points per game. He has scored in double-figures in 19 of the Explorers' 29 games, including nine of the last 14 outings.
- Deuce 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 (2.8) per game by a freshman.
- Jahlil White has impressed as of late. The graduate transfer forward is averaging double-figures over his last four games and is averaging 11.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in his last two. He is averaging 9.8 points and 6.0 rebounds.
- Etienne has started 11 games, including the last ten. The redshirt junior is averaging 4.9 points and rebounds per game.
SCOUTING GEORGE MASON
- George Mason is 22-7 overall and 13-3 in the Atlantic-10. Mason is having its best season in years. The Patriots won 11 straight A-10 games, but have dropped two of the last three. They have claimed victory in 13 consecutive home games.
- Jalen Hayes is a player to watch, averaging 13.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
- DMV native and George Mason legend Tony Skinn coaches the Patriots in his second season. Skinn, who played on Mason's 2006 Final Four team, is his second season leading the program. He is 42-19 in his two years in Fairfax.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST GEORGE MASON
- The Explorers are 3-9 all-time against the Patriots, with all 12 of those matchups coming since the Patriots joined the A-10 in the 2013-14 season.
- All three of La Salle's wins have come in Philadelphia, most recently an 83-78 victory on Feb. 5, 2022.
