La Salle coach Fran Dunphy spent much of the first half of the team’s Wednesday night matchup with Davidson clapping and shouting defensive orders. The Explorers trailed by as many as 17 in the first half after throwing double-teams at Davidson junior forward Reed Bailey for much of the period. Dunphy’s animation on the sidelines was half-frustration at his team’s physicality, half-communication.
“We doubled down one time on somebody other than Bailey, and that cost us,” Dunphy said. “Then we didn’t rotate out of the double team well enough. Then we had three different times … [giving] up an offensive rebound. They ran a little bit of offense and Bailey throws the three in the basket. What, are you kidding? We can’t have that.”
The Explorers (10-7, 2-2 Atlantic 10) scrapped their focus on Bailey, going back to simpler rotations and coverages. That decision propelled them to a 79-76 comeback victory over Davidson (12-5, 2-2 A-10) for the first conference win at the John Glaser Arena.
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Freshman guard Deuce Jones played all 40 minutes and finished as the game’s leading scorer, tying his career-high with 23 points. Senior guard Daeshon Shepherd scored 19 points, including a second-half left corner three to give the Explorers a 59-58 lead, their first of the game, with 9 minutes, 36 seconds to play.
Redshirt junior forward Mac Etienne was essential in the comeback. He grabbed 14 rebounds and scored nine points in 22 minutes. Three of his points came on two trips to the foul line as Davidson was playing catch-up in the final minute.
“I thought we were more physical and determined on the defensive end,” Dunphy said. “[Etienne] had a lot to do with that.”
Davidson sophomore forward Bobby Durkin and Bailey combined for 41 Wildcat points.
‘The best team Dunphy’s had’
The Explorers outscored the Wildcats, 32-20, over the game’s final 13 minutes. La Salle swarmed Davidson. The Explorers pressured ball handlers and got more aggressive offensively.
“It’s probably the best team coach Dunphy’s had here at La Salle,” Davidson head coach Matt McKillop said. “You can’t get out-toughed when it comes down towards those last eight … ten minutes of the game.”
The Explorers finished with a 39-33 edge in rebounding, including a 12-7 advantage on the offensive glass. La Salle scored 11 second-chance points and scored 22 points off 12 Davidson turnovers.
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“They’ve got so many different weapons,” McKillop said. “[Jahlil White] just attacked us for a stretch. We had to change our matchup. Then Daeshon Shepherd starts making threes. Their guards are so good and dynamic. Then they go to the bench with Mac Etienne and he just kicks people in the butt on the glass. Each guy has a really good role but they’re also such a challenge to match up with.”
Fearless Jones
Fresh off of his game-winning three in overtime at St. Bonaventure last Saturday, Jones recorded five assists, three steals, and two rebounds in addition to his 23 points.
Jones also finished with six turnovers and three fouls, all on attempted steals. His brazen play sparked the Explorers defense after its slow start.
“[Jones] has absolutely no fear, none whatsoever,” Dunphy said. “That’s the good part. The bad part is sometimes he has no fear. You live with it. … He’s getting better.”
The three-time A-10 rookie of the week has been a lift for the Explorers in the early stages of conference play. Jones has been in the Explorers’ starting lineup for the last six games. He has averaged 12.8 points over that stretch, including a 23-point performance against Farleigh Dickinson on Dec. 18.
Up Next
La Salle travels to Massachusetts (7-11, 2-3 A-10) for its next contest on Sunday (2 p.m., USA Network). The Explorers have an opportunity to string together three conference victories, something they did once last season.
After the trip to Amherst, the Explorers travel west to Saint Louis (10-7, 3-1 A-10) for a matchup with the Billikens (7 p.m., ESPN+) on Jan. 22.