Davidson’s tribute to its top coaches punctuated with an A-10 win over La Salle

Davidson College celebrated its three winningest men’s basketball coaches Saturday, and the Wildcat team got in the spirit by turning back Atlantic 10 opponent La Salle, 77-69.

The 25th-ranked Wildcats (17-3, 7-1) bounced back from a Wednesday night loss to VCU that had snapped Davidson’s 15-game winning streak.

The Wildcats held off a determined upset effort by La Salle (6-12, 1-7), building double-digit leads several times but having to fend off rallies by the Explorers.

Luke Brajkovic led the way with 22 points, six rebounds and three assists. He made 7-of-10 shots from the floor. Foster Loyer and Hyunjung Lee each added 14 points.

The Wildcat defense held La Salle to 22 percent shooting from 3-point range.

After the game, Davidson celebrated its coaches.

After the game, Davidson College retired jerseys in honor of former coaches Charles “Lefty” Driesell and Terry Holland. And the Wildcats honored current head coach Bob McKillop, who marked his 1,000th game as Davidson coach Saturday.

Driesell, now 90, coached Davidson for nine seasons in the 1960s, compiling a 176-65 record. His Wildcat teams reached the NCAA Elite 8 in 1968 and 1969, and his 1968-69 team compiled a 27-3 record.

Driesell later coached 17 seasons at Maryland, nine at James Madison, and six at Georgia State. He retired with a record of 786-394.

Holland, 79, has the distinction of being a player, head coach and athletics director at Davidson. He played under Driesell and a few years later became head coach. Holland had a record of 92-43 in five seasons at Davidson.

He later coached 16 seasons at Virginia, where his record was 326-173. After retiring from coaching, he served as athletics director at Davidson, Virginia and East Carolina.

Holland is now emeritus director of athletics at East Carolina.

Driesell, who lives in Virginia Beach, did not attend Saturday’s event. Holland was on hand, though.

Driesell’s .730 winning percentage ranks first all-time in Davidson history, followed by Holland (.681) and McKillop (.624).