PHILADELPHIA – Explorer freshman Jamir Moultrie sunk a three pointer with 1:16 remaining to break the 72-72 tie and lift La Salle to an 81-78 win over Atlantic-10 rival Saint Joseph’s on Saturday.
Both teams got off to a slow start. The first basket of the game came 2:24 into the first half, scored by Explorer senior Amar Stukes. With 13 minutes remaining in the half, the Hawks scored the next six points to take an 8-5 lead.
Moultrie brought the game within one with just under 11 minutes left, but the Hawks took another explosive offensive run, scoring three consecutive three pointers to take a 22-12 advantage with eight minutes on the clock.
Pookie Powell drained a three pointer to bring the Explorers within eight with four minutes left to play in the half.
B.J. Johnson started La Salle’s momentum with back to back threes, while Stukes scored on a flawless reverse layup. Powell drained two free throws to top off La Salle’s 10-0 run which brought the Explorers within three. With under a minute to go, Chris Clover of Saint Joseph’s sunk a jumper to give the Hawks a 433-38 lead as the half ended.
#20 B.J. Johnson hits a 3-pointer - Photo courtesy of GoExplorers.com
Just 43 seconds into the second half, Isiah Deas connected with Stukes to cut the deficit to three points. Later, a steal and a layup courtesy to Powell brought the Explorers within one with just over 11 minutes to play.
Saul Phiri completed a pair of free throws, which tied the game at 58 with 10:26 remaining.
Moultrie scored a three pointer to give La Salle a 61-58 lead, their first of the game. After a Hawks timeout, he scored another three to push the advantage to six.
The Hawks refused to give up as they powered back to tie the game at 64 a piece. After battling back and forth in the final minutes of the game, and missing two three-point shots in the final seconds of the half, SJU was edged by La Salle at the Tom Gola Arena.
“We’ve seen this before, missed free throws and turnovers. This is the man in the mirror,” said Saint Joseph’s coach Phil Martelli.
La Salle improves their record to 10-13 (4-6 A-10) while SJU falls to 9-13 (4-6 A-10) and extends their losing streak to four.
Moultrie finished with 18 points in 20 minutes of play, just one shy of his career high. B.J. Johnson was La Salle’s leading scorer of the night with 25 points and recorded his 1,000th point of his collegiate career. Pookie Powell played 40 minutes of the game and did not have one turnover. He scored 25 points and had 11 assists. The Explorers turned the ball over only twice, which ties for the second-lowest total in an NCAA game this season.
SJU will play at Davidson on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m.
La Salle will travel to George Washington on Wednesday, Feb. 7 for their next match up. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.