For the fourth straight season, the La Salle men’s basketball team secured a win in its opening game of the Atlantic 10 (A-10) Tournament, defeating Massachusetts 78-71 on Wednesday evening at Capital One Arena. With the victory, the Explorers move on to face Saint Joseph’s for a rare fourth matchup this season. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Strong Finish Propels La Salle Past UMass
With the game tied at 67 and under three minutes to play, La Salle took control with a decisive 7-0 run. Five of those points came from the free-throw line as the Explorers capitalized on key opportunities. Graduate student Corey McKeithan delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a career-high 30 points while playing the entire 40 minutes.
Game Breakdown
First Half
- La Salle jumped out to a 12-6 lead with balanced scoring and solid defense.
- UMass responded with an 8-0 run to take a 22-21 lead, but La Salle quickly reclaimed control.
- Ryan Zan contributed five points in a key stretch, helping the Explorers build a 28-25 advantage.
- La Salle’s defense tightened late in the half, holding UMass scoreless for the final 4:13 to take a 39-30 lead into the break.
Second Half
- UMass opened strong with an 8-0 run, cutting La Salle’s lead to 41-38.
- The Minutemen eventually tied the game at 43 and took their first lead of the half at 47-45.
- La Salle fought through a cold stretch before regaining momentum with an and-one from Daeshon Shepherd and a five-point surge from McKeithan.
- The game remained tight, with multiple lead changes in the closing minutes.
- A crucial four-point swing by La Salle, aided by a flagrant foul on UMass, helped secure the victory.
Key Stats and Performances
- McKeithan’s 30 points marked the second-highest total by a La Salle player in A-10 tournament history, trailing only Jordan Price’s 36 in 2016.
- Ryan Zan recorded a season-high nine points and five rebounds.
- Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi scored in double figures for the fourth straight game and tied his career-high with seven rebounds.
- Deuce Jones reached double digits for the eighth time in the last seven games with 10 points.
Next Up: Round Two vs. Saint Joseph’s
La Salle advances to the second round to take on Saint Joseph’s in a rare fourth matchup this season. The game is set to tip off at approximately 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on USA Network.
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