Philadelphia: It is still early in conference play as teams try to figure out what their team is made of and that is what we have on Saturday night as the LaSalle Explorers took on Saint Louis Billikens from Tom Gola Arena on the campus of LaSalle University. The Explorers comes into the game with a 3-11 record and 1-1 in A10 and off a loss toVCU on January 9 while the Billikens enters battle with the Explorers at 11-4, 2-0 in A10 and off a win over UMass also on January 9.
LaSalle won the tip to start the game with the ball and turn it over on shot clock violation. Saint Louis would open the scoring on a basket from Javon Bess for the 2-0 lead, the Explorers would get on the board on a 3 pointer by Isiah Deas for the 3-2 lead. The Billikens would jump on the Explorers and just make thing hard for them, Explorers would rally back and would tie the game at 18 on back to back 3 pointers from Jack Clark with 6:59 left. Saint Louis would answer the run and would take a 37-27 lead into halftime
In the Second Half, Saint Louis would keep the pressure on the explorers, the Explorers would go on a run and would be down 50-44 with 11:26 left in 2nd half. Explorers would have back to back plays where they got the lead down to 1, first was Dunk, then steal leads to basket & foul. Explorers would tie the game at 58 with 5:05 left, just as they had all the momentum, the Billikens retakes the lead. There would be multiple chances by the Explorers to tie the game or even take the lead but they just could not get it done as the Billikens would take down the Explorers 71-64.
With the win, the Billikens go to 12-4 on the season & 3-0 in A10 and head to encounter with Fordham on February 15 & the Explorers fall 3-12 & 1-2 in A10 and look to get back to their winning ways as they take on George Washington on January 16.
Final Stats:
LaSalle Explorers:
Isiah Deas & Jack Clark each with 14 points
Pookie Powell: 12 points
Saul Phiri: 8 points
Saint Louis Billikens:
Hasahn French & Jordan Goodwin each had 12 points
Javon Bess: 11 points
Video:
LaSalle Coach Ashley Howard:
