Barclays Center—-After trailing by as much as nine points in the opening half, La Salle staged a remarkable comeback to narrowly defeat George Washington, securing a 61-60 victory in the inaugural round of the Atlantic 10 men’s basketball tournament.
La Salle (16-16) had previously triumphed over the Revolutionaries (15-17) twice during the regular season, with the final match at Tom Gola Arena marking a significant milestone. At the Barclays Center on Tuesday, the Explorers extended their winning streak to three, setting up a showdown against the No. 7 seed St. Bonaventure (18-12) in the upcoming second round on Wednesday at 5 p.m., USA Network.
With George Washington leading by a solitary point and only 27.8 seconds left on the clock, Jhamir Brickus rose to the occasion, sinking a critical jumper, earning a team-high 21 points, and drawing a foul. However, despite his efforts, the senior guard couldn’t convert the subsequent free throw. La Salle’s hopes hung in the balance, requiring a defensive stop in the waning 15 seconds. Miraculously, James Bishop IV’s last-ditch three-point attempt failed to find the mark, propelling La Salle into the next round.
“I wasn’t prepared to end our journey here,” Brickus remarked. “So, in that moment, I simply did everything in my power to secure the win for my team.”
Brickus initiated the scoring with a pull-up jumper for La Salle, but thereafter, the Explorers struggled to find their rhythm, allowing George Washington to seize momentum with nine consecutive points.
“We doubled up our defense three times, and it backfired on us,” lamented La Salle coach Fran Dunphy. “Our execution was lacking in those instances… it cost us dearly, likely nine points in the first half. That was pivotal. However, I believe we showed improvement in the second half.”
Despite their defensive resilience early on, the Explorers faltered on the offensive end, frequently failing to convert scoring opportunities. Additionally, La Salle struggled to dominate the rebound battle, managing just seven offensive boards in the first half, translating to a mere two second-chance points.
