La Salle Explorers are their own Worst Enemy in a Loss to Richmond

Today, the Richmond Spiders came to Tom Gola Arena for a matchup with the La Salle Explorers in a game pitting strength against strength.

The Richmond Spiders [15-9, 9-3 A10] dispatched the La Salle Explorers [13-10, 7-5 A10] without much fight 64-52. Led by T.J. Cline (21 points, eight rebounds) and Nick Sherod (16 points) the Spiders were able to keep the turnover prone explorers in check today. The 12 point win doesn’t do justice to how dominant Richmond was or to how the Explorers broke down to end this one.

Head coach John Giannini was brutally honest after the game saying, “I watched a team that couldn’t dribble pass or shoot. I’m pretty much at a loss and I’m not sure why.”

The La Salle Explorers got off to an early start in this one, forcing the Spiders into turnovers but they were unable to capitalize on them. In the early going, Richmond was 0-2 from the field while also coughing the ball up twice yet the Explorer’s only had two points to show for it.

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That’s not good at all with two of the top scorers in the Atlantic 10 present and ready to strike at any moment for the Spiders. And strike they did as T.J. Cline had three straight buckets to put the spiders in control of this one heading into the under 16 media timeout. After that, things settled down for both sides but turnovers were the name of the game for the La Salle Explorers who committed 11 in the first half.

For the most part, the Explorers didn’t play particularly bad in the first half but their inability to drive to the hoop was exploited by Richmond. The Spiders have the 16th best perimeter defense in the nation and it showed as they held the Explorers to a 2-11 line from behind the arc.

The lone bright spot of the half was the La Salle defense which also was able to hold ShawnDre’ Jones to only four points. They were also able to contain the Spiders behind the arc, holding them to a 1-8 line.

At the beginning of the second half, it looked like the Explorers may have awoken from their slumber as they came out and tied the game courtesy of a 6-0 run. But the Spiders would reclaim their advantage quickly with an 8-0 run of their own. But down eight, the Explorers weren’t ready to roll over yet as B.J. johnson keyed an 11-0 run to tie the score at 45.

Little did we know, that would be the final scoring run that the Explorers had in them as they only mustered four points from the 10:17 mark until the 58.1 mark when Johnnie Schuler hit a three-pointer to close the scoring on the night. Coach Giannini gave the Spiders defense credit saying, “Richmond set a tone of defense and aggressiveness that we just didn’t respond to.” He’s right because the close was an awful period for the La Salle Explorers full of mental lapses and inexcusable turnovers (24 to be exact) but the Spiders kept chugging to get the win.

It’s clear that the La Salle Explorers are missing guard Pookie Powell who has now missed six straight games with a bone bruise. Prior to his injury in practice, he was averaging 13.4 points per game and Cleon Roberts has not been abe to fill his spot. Coach Giannini was unable to offer an update on his status saying that he’ll return when he’s okay but for the sake of the Explorers, hopefully, that’s sooner rather than later.

Next: The Death and Life of the Penn Quakers Basketball Program

Next up for the Explorers is a trip to take on Saint Bonaventure to take on the Bonnies on Wednesday. As the Atlantic 10 season winds down, this game will have to be put in the rearview mirror and the Explorers will need to plug on. There are only six conference games left and La Salle will need to make the most of them.

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