City of Basketball Love

By Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)
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OLNEY — There were a few hiccups Tuesday night on Olney Avenue — parking lots filled up, some confusion for fans navigating their way to their seats, a few technical difficulties pregame.

They’ll work out the kinks. ... That's what happens when something new comes along. Those who walked into John Glaser Arena were treated to a game day experience the Explorers have not been able to offer before.

A little more than eight months after closing Tom Gola Arena with a victory, the La Salle men’s basketball team picked up a 65-52 victory over American in the first game at the renovated and renamed facility.

“This was a big night for a lot of people here,” said La Salle head coach Fran Dunphy, an Explorers alum. “I praise those folks, those donors who gave us this opportunity to change what La Salle basketball can be.”

The La Salle men's basketball team opened John Glaser Arena with a win on Tuesday. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

La Salle showed off its new roster as well as its new arena on Tuesday night. The Explorers had to replace 60% of their scoring from the 2023-24 16-17 squad after getting hit hard by the transfer portal – Jhamir Brickus (Villanova), Khalil Brantley (Oklahoma State) and Anwar Gil (Howard) all finding new homes. 

Two graduate transfers led the way Tuesday as Corey McKeithan (Rider) and Jahlil White (Temple) scored 16 and 15 points, respectively, with a few other new faces having their moments as well.

La Salle led 33-22 at the break before a 13-2 spurt by American to start the second half cut the lead to 37-35 with 15:10 left in the game. While the Explorers’ defense stiffened, things were still tight — 44-41 La Salle — with 8:53 left in the game.

A jumper by McKeithan started a 10-0 run that also included a tip-in by White, a short jumper from redshirt-junior forward Mac Etienne and four points from freshman Deuce Jones.

“I think our togetherness in the offseason was huge,” White said of himself and the other newcomers. “I think we really jelled and we welcomed each other with open arms and we knew that was the key to us being successful. I think our chemistry off the court is even better than on the court for us.”

With redshirt-junior guard Andrés Marrero the lone member of the backcourt returning, the Explorers needed some help at the guard spot this season. McKeithan, a 5-foot-10 guard, started for the first time as a senior at Rider last season, averaging 8.0 ppg and 3.3 rpg after coming off the bench in his first two years with the Broncs. He led La Salle with 16 points and added three assists compared to just one turnover in his Explorers debut, playing a team-high 37 minutes and hitting some of the game’s most important shots.

After American got back within single digits, McKeithan drilled a triple and then came down and scored a layup two possessions later to extend the La Salle advantage to 61-48 with 2:33 to play.The Eagles didn’t get any closer than 10 the rest of the way.

“He’s been great to coach and he’s got a majority that’s special for me,” Dunphy said. “He was a fifth-year guy who’s been around the block a little bit. But you can trust him.”

“I thought he set the tone for us in many ways with tough shots and with his defensive intensity,” Dunphy added.

La Salle senior Daeshon Shepherd, an Archbishop Wood product, joined McKeithan and White in double figures. Colins Smalls had 10 for American, which shot 48 percent from the floor but couldn’t match the aggressiveness of the Explorers. La Salle was 14-of-18 from the line, while the Eagles shot 3-for-9 at the foul line.

The arena renovation project began in March. It marked the first significant upgrade to the basketball facilities since the university turned Hayman Hall into Tom Gola Arena in 1998, John Glaser Arena was named in honor of the 1962 alum whose posthumous donation in 2013 spearheaded the fundraising effort and put a clock on the time frame for the renovation.

The Explorers won their first four games last season before Duke handed them their first loss and they finished the year with a 16-17 mark (6-12 Atlantic 10). La Salle has two more home games before traveling to Cameron Indoor Stadium to face the Blue Devils on Nov. 16. Saturday’s Homecoming game against Lafayette will be another opportunity to show off the new digs.

“Compared to playing at Liacouras, it’s a lot smaller, so it’s definitely an energy feeling in the gym,” White said. “It was something that I like, something that you kind of thrive of off. It gives you energy.”