La Salle Advances in A-10 Tournament with Win Over Saint Joseph’s

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — La Salle University’s basketball team secured a decisive victory over Saint Louis, advancing to the next round of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament with a 78-71 win on Wednesday. The Explorers, seeded 14th, outperformed the 11th-seeded Billikens in a thrilling first-round matchup.

Corey McKeithan led the Explorers with an impressive 30-point performance, shooting 7 of 13 from the field and impressively sinking 5 of 8 attempts from beyond the three-point arc. McKeithan also went a perfect 11 for 11 from the free-throw line. This performance was instrumental in clinching the win for La Salle (14-18).

Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi contributed significantly as well, adding 12 points with 2 for 6 shooting, including 1 for 4 from three-point range. The team’s overall strong offensive showing laid the foundation for advancing in the tournament.

“We came out strong and played the kind of basketball that we know we are capable of,” McKeithan stated after the game. “Every player stepped up, and it’s great to see our hard work paying off.”

La Salle will face the sixth-seeded Saint Joseph's, who holds a record of 20-11, in the second round of the tournament tonight. The Explorers will need to build on this momentum as they take on a stronger opponent with higher expectations.

“Saint Joseph’s is a tough team, but we believe in ourselves and our capabilities,” head coach Fran Dunphy said. “Our experience in close games like this will serve us well as we prepare for our next challenge.”

The upcoming game promises to be a fierce battle as both teams look to secure a spot in the tournament’s later rounds.