PHILADELPHIA — A standout performance by Deuce Jones, coming off the bench to score 27 points, propelled La Salle to an 81-74 win over Saint Joseph’s on Saturday. This victory marked a turnaround for the Explorers, breaking an eight-game losing streak.
Jones was instrumental in the win, also contributing five rebounds for the Explorers (13-18, 5-14 Atlantic 10 Conference). Corey McKeithan added to the scoring effort by dropping 22 points, shooting 9 of 19 from the field, including 3 of 6 from the three-point range. Both Mac Etienne and Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi made significant contributions with 13 points each.
For Saint Joseph’s (20-11, 12-7), Erik Reynolds II led with 22 points, six assists, and two blocks. His teammate, Xzayvier Brown, chipped in with 16 points and added two steals to his performance. Meanwhile, Rasheer Fleming provided solid support with 14 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks, though the Hawks saw their five-game winning streak come to an end.
La Salle took control of the game midway through the first half. They took the forefront with 6:20 left in the initial half and maintained their momentum. Aiding them to a 44-33 halftime lead was McKeithan, who netted 13 points in the first half. In the second half, Jones continued to lead the charge, scoring 18 points, while the Explorers preserved their advantage to secure the win.
