Long Island defeats La Salle 70-60
Long Island Holds Off La Salle in Non-Conference Thriller
In a tightly contested matchup, the Long Island University Blackbirds (7-4) edged out the visiting La Salle Explorers (6-5), 70-60, at Steinberg Wellness Center on Sunday evening.
The home team's strong performance from beyond the arc and efficient free throw shooting helped them maintain a comfortable lead throughout the game. Greg Gordon led the way for Long Island, scoring 25 points on 3-4 three-point attempts (64.7% FG) to pace his team's attack. Jamal Fuller chipped in with five rebounds, seven points, two assists, and two steals, while Malachi Davis contributed seven assists and 19 points.
La Salle struggled from the field, shooting just 41.0% from the floor, but made up for it by hitting 50.0% of their free throws. Jaeden Marshall led the Explorers with 13 points, but his three-point attempts were limited to 3-5 (50.0% FG).
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with Long Island holding a slim lead at halftime. However, the home team's defense stiffened in the second half, limiting La Salle to just four fast break points. Meanwhile, Long Island continued to knock down shots from beyond the arc, including several key threes that extended their lead.
The largest difference-maker was Long Island's rebounding advantage, with 20 defensive rebounds against La Salle's 22. This allowed the Blackbirds to control the pace of the game and limit the Explorers' scoring opportunities.
In terms of advanced statistics, Long Island's effective field goal percentage (eFG%) was a respectable 56.3%, while La Salle struggled at just 45.1%. The Blackbirds also outrebounded their opponents by four, with an offensive rebounding rate of 31.0%.
For the Explorers, this loss is a significant setback in what had been a promising season so far. Despite the loss, La Salle's defensive performance was impressive, holding Long Island to just 24.6 turnovers per 100 possessions.
With this win, Long Island improves to 7-4 and takes its place among the top teams in the conference standings. The Explorers fall to 6-5 and will look to bounce back in their next matchup.