Jermaine "Itchy" Bolden led the Bears with 14 points and 5 assists at La Salle on Saturday afternoon.
Boxscore
PHILADELPHIA, PA - The La Salle University Explorers held on for a 64-61 victory over Morgan State on Saturday afternoon at Tom Gola Arena.
La Salle's Rodney Green and Kimmani Barrett each scored 15 points to lead all scorers but it was sophomore Jerrell Williams who came up with a pair of offensive rebounds and follow-up buckets to help secure the win.
La Salle led by as many as six points in the first half, but Morgan State took control of the boards and chipped the lead down to 25-24 at the half following a jumper by newcomer Troy Smith.
Marquise Kately hit one-of-two free throws to help the Bears tie the score for the ninth time with four minutes and 23 seconds to play.
Two Williams' free throws on the following possession gave his team a 58-56 lead. Williams would then crash the boards for an offensive rebound and put-back off a missed three-pointer and follow a miss by Green at the 2:34 mark to build a 62-58 lead. He would then hit one of two free throws with 16 seconds to play to build a 63-58 advantage. He finished five for seven from the line.
The Explorers went just one for four from the line in the final ten seconds to allow the Bears to remain in the game but Paul Johnson came up with a critical steal on the inbounds with 2.7 seconds left and a 63-61 lead.
Barrett made one of two free throws to make the score 64-61 and Jermaine Bolden's last-second three point missed at the buzzer.
Bolden led the Bears with 14 points and five assists, followed by Rogers Barnes with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting. #Reggie Holmes# and Marquise Kately chipped in 10 points each.
Morgan State shot 32.8 percent from the field and knocked down 11-of-18 three pointers (42.1%). The Explorers finished 21-of-44 from the field (47.7%) and shot 33.3 percent (4-12) from beyond the arc.
The Bears will host UMBC at Hill Field House on Monday night at 7:00 PM
