‘Cats Come Back to Defeat Explorers, 85-78

Although this was the ‘Cats first time playing on the newly and grotesquely named MacQuarie Court at the Palestra, the rest of their visit to this historic gym and opening of the Big 5 went as it normally does for Jay Wright’s team. Despite some early turbulence and a halftime deficit, they gave Ashley Howard and the La Salle Explorers their eighth loss to open this season, 85-78.

Despite eventually coming up short, the Explorers surprisingly held the lead for the majority of the game, taking control for the first time at 8-4 after a Traci Carter (17 PTS, 8 ASTS) triple first put them in front following Collin Gillespie’s (15 PTS, 5 ASTS) fast break layup off the initial tip. Jay Wright…