La Salle and Davidson tip off at Glaser Arena on January 15, 2025. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)
By AARON BRACY
January 15, 2025
PHILADELPHIA – The play is pronounced “Sixer.” In the waning seconds of overtime at a raucous Reilly Center on Saturday afternoon and with La Salle trailing by two points, coach Fran Dunphy called it in the huddle.
“Sixer” is designed to create a shot for one of the Explorers’ guards. It could have been Eric Acker, or Corey McKeithan, or Deuce Jones.
As the stunned Reilly Center—and college basketball world—saw, the shot went to the rookie Jones, who banked home an unlikely three-pointer with 0.3 seconds left in the extra session to lift the Explorers to an improbable, but well-earned 83-82 victory over the Bonnies.
“Loved it. Went in the basket,” Dunphy said. “You have to trust in your guys.”
Of Jones, the veteran coach said, “Absolutely no fear. None whatsoever. It was just a guy making a play”
And, on Wednesday, back at the friendly confines of comfy, though sadly porous Glaser Arena, there was Jones doing it again. This time, he nailed a corner 3 at the buzzer of the first half, ending a forgettable opening 20 minutes for the Explorers against visiting Davidson with the hosts trailing by just eight when it felt like they were down eighty.
La Salle looked lifeless and outmatched while digging itself a 17-point, first-half hole. Jones’s first-half steal and dunk was one of the few signs of engagement for the Explorers in a surprisingly dull follow-up to Saturday’s outstanding performance in Olean, New York.
But then Jones hit that shot to end the half. Dunphy trashed his plan to double-team Davidson’s Reed Bailey, which was only leaving the other guys open who helped the Wildcats enter ranked 37th in the country in three-point percentage, and switched to man-to-man defense in the second half. That seemed to suit Jones just fine, thank you very much. The reigning A-10 Player of the Week—get used to hearing that, Explorers fans—hounded Wildcats players after halftime.
He chased balls all over the court, at one point nearly slamming into assistant coach John Cox for a loose ball that caromed into the La Salle bench. Maybe, Dunphy joked, Jones would have enjoyed slamming into the head coach as payback, ostensibly for Dunphy’s demanding style, but he thought better of it.
That was about the only time Jones slowed down in the second 20 minutes, doing whatever La Salle needed to help the Explorers’ to a very good 79-76 comeback victory. Jones led La Salle (10-7 overall, 2-2 Atlantic 10) with 23 points.
“Deuce on sheer will, that’s one of those things that he does” Dunphy said. “He’s tougher than most and more determined than most.”
I asked Dunphy to compare Jones to some of the tough, talented guards he’s coached through his long and distinguished career at Penn, Temple, and La Salle. Surprisingly, the coach drew a blank.
“He’s a unique player,” Dunphy said.
Davidson, like St. Bonaventure, felt it.
“He can make very difficult shots, and he’s so darn quick,” Wildcats coach Matt McKillop said.
Jones made 9 of 14 shots, including two electrifying fastbreak dunks, and hit 3 of 6 from long range.
Jones’s final three-pointer of the night pulled the Explorers within 53-47 with 13:54 left. But La Salle was down eight 32 seconds later when Mike Loughnane converted a layup. Then, stunningly, the Explorers ran off 19 of the next 21 points over a nearly 7 1/2-minute stretch to take complete control.
Mac Etienne was huge during the spurt, both in scoring and rebounding. He finished with nine points and 14 rebounds, including four offensive boards. Daeshon Shepherd chipped in with 19 points, including consecutive three-pointers in the final minutes that all but sealed the win. La Salle also got good contributions from Jahlil White (9 points, 4 rebounds), McKeithan (8 points, 4 assists), and Demetrius Lilley (8 points, 6 rebounds).
“I’m happy,” Dunphy said. “We’re learning, growing, more team-like.”
In Jones, they also have a freshman that is doing just about everything for the Explorers. Come to think of it, Dunphy might want to be on the lookout the next time a loose ball heads toward the Explorers bench with Jones in pursuit.
Because Jones is showing no signs of slowing down.
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Aaron Bracy has been covering Philadelphia sports since 1996. 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.