PHILADELPHIA — In a solid display of basketball, Erik Reynolds II propelled Saint Joseph’s (PA) to an 82-68 victory over La Salle on Saturday evening, contributing a remarkable 24 points to the scoreboard.

Reynolds demonstrated impressive shooting skills, making 10 of 18 attempts from the field, although he struggled from the 3-point range hitting only 1 of 5. He remained perfect from the free throw line, converting all three of his attempts, fueling the Hawks to a record of 6-3 overall and 1-0 in Atlantic 10 Conference play. Alongside him, Xzayvier Brown made a significant impact, scoring 21 points while also supplying six assists and four steals. Rasheer Fleming added to the team efforts with nine points, landing four out of ten shots but failing to make any of his five attempts from long distance.

On the opposing side, the Explorers (6-4, 0-1) saw Deuce Jones lead their scoring with 19 points, accompanied by four assists and two steals to his credit. Corey McKeithan also played a vital role, contributing 15 points and securing seven rebounds. Demetrius Lilley rounded out the efforts for La Salle with 12 points and seven rebounds of his own.

The turning point came with 5:44 remaining in the first half when Saint Joseph’s seized the lead, maintaining it for the rest of the game. Reynolds was instrumental during the first half, dropping in eight points which helped the Hawks finish the half ahead 33-29. Brown then elevated his game in the second half, netting 16 additional points that kept La Salle at bay as the game progressed.

In summary, Saint Joseph’s showcased their strength in this clash against their rivals, setting a solid foundation for the remainder of their conference campaign.