Jahlil White had 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists in La Salle's win over Stetson on Saturday. (Pic: White IG)
By AARON BRACY
November 23, 2024
Corey McKeithan scored 27 points and La Salle used a dominating second half to defeat Stetson 92-77 on Saturday in the Explorers’ final game of the Boardwalk Battle in Daytona Beach, Florida.
The victory salvaged a 1-2 showing in the event for La Salle, which opened with a 72-67 loss to eventual tournament champion UC San Diego on Thursday before falling 96-83 to Illinois Chicago on Saturday.
It was a disappointing beginning for the Explorers (5-2), who started the season with so much promise. But they happily salvaged a win in the finale.
“Grateful for the opportunity to compete in the Boardwalk Battle and the chance to face some really good teams,” La Salle coach Fran Dunphy, through a spokesperson, told Big5Hoops.com. “There are some areas we can improve on; we are fortunate we got the win over Stetson. We will learn from our experience and hopefully be ready to take on a very good Temple team on Saturday.”
Saturday, of course, is a huge game for both the Explorers and the Owls. The contest will tip off at 4 o’clock at Glaser Arena, with the winner advancing to the championship game of the Big 5 Classic against Saint Joseph’s on Saturday, December 7 at the Wells Fargo Center. The loser will play Villanova in the third-place game of the one-day tripleheader.
The Explorers will need to be better against Temple than they were in their opener against San Diego when they struggled offensively, shooting 38.2 percent (21 of 55) from the field, 29.2 percent (4 of 11) from three-point range, and 58.1 percent (12 of 20) from the free throw line. McKeithan led the Explorers with 21 points against the Tritons, and Jahlil White had 13 points and seven rebounds in the opener on Thursday.
On Friday, rookie Deuce Jones was a bright spot for the Explorers in the 13-point defeat to UIC, netting 21 points in 22 minutes.
In their victory on Saturday, La Salle overcame a 41-40 halftime deficit by outscoring Stetson 52-36 after the break. In addition to McKeithan, four Explorers scored in double figures, with White getting 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Mac Etienne added career highs in both points (12) and rebounds (nine).
—
Aaron Bracy has been covering Philadelphia sports since 1996. His byline regularly appears on Associated Press stories. Follow Bracy on X: @Aaron_Bracy and like his Facebook and Instagram pages. His book on the 2003-04 Saint Joseph’s men’s basketball team is expected to be published on March 1, 2025. Read a summary and preorder it by clicking HERE. Contact him at aaron@big5hoops.com.