26-7 Men s Basketball Game Notes THE SCOOP In La Salle s own version of Groundhog Day, the Explorers dropped a 59-55 decision at Saint Louis a week ago at the Scottrade Center. The Explorers held an eight point lead with 6.6 remaining when Brian Grimes pass was too hot for Rodney Green to handle in the low post, fell out of bounds and the Explorers failed to register another field goal in the loss. The lone points scored down the stretch came from a pair of free throws hit by senior Mike St, John who led the team with a season-high points. The loss followed a similar, yet less drastic, pattern as those against Penn, Fordham, Charlotte and Duquesne. DIAZ NOT IN LINE-UP Head Coach Dr. John Giannini has granted Explorer junior Sherman Diaz permission to return to his native Trinidad & Tobago to attend and serve as the best man in his brother s wedding. Diaz requested the leave during the summer and was granted permission by the coaching staff. T O D A Y S G A M E : Saturday, February 24th - 2: PM Tom Gola Arena, Philadelphia, PA EXPLORERS (-7, 3-) vs. George Washington (6-8, 7-5) Media: Radio: ESPN 92 Kale Beers, Steve Degler and Ed Fitzpatrick Live video action and GameTracker at GoExplorers.com LAST YEAR VS. GW (/22/6 at Smith Center GW 77 - LU 65) The Explorers took a 35-3 lead into halftime against the #6 Colonials at the Smith Center but GW rallied in the second half to snap a seven-game Explorer win streak. Darnell Harris led the Explorers with 9 points. GW had five players score or more points including Reigis Koundjia who had 2. SERIES BUSINESS Series Record: LU 7 - GW 5 La Salle: Last Win (location): //3, 67-49 (at La Salle) Last Road Win: 2/29/83, 65-64 (at Maryland Invitational) George Washington: Last Win (location): /22/6, 77-65 (Smith Center) Last Road Win: /9/5, 84-66 Streaks and Trends: George Washington has won six straight going back to the 2-3 season. GW owns a 7-4 lead in the series since the Explorers joined the A- in 996 TEAM LEADERS SCO R I NG Darnell Harris - 4.3 ppg R E BOUN DS Yves Mekongo Mbala- 5.9 rpg A SSISTS Mike St. John - 2.9 apg SCHEDULE/RESULTS NOVEMBER Sat. 8 MT. ST. MARY'S W, 66-6 Tue. 2 HOWARD W, 84-78 Sat. 25 at St. Francis (PA) W, 69-6 DECEMBER HAWKEYE CHALLENGE (at Iowa City, IA) Fri. vs. Coppin St L, 68-69 Sat. 2 vs Iowa/Texas - Pan American W, 64-6 Thu. 7 MARYLAND-BALTIMORE CO. L, 78-67 Sat. 6 at Central Connecticut W, 86-73 Wed. 2 MORGAN STATE W, 2-76 Sat. 23 VILLANOVA L, 64-5 La Salle Tournament (Tom Gola Arena) Thu. 28 vs. HOLY CROSS L, 68-48 Fri. 29 vs. DELAWARE L, 58-56 Sat. 3 vs. NIAGARA L, 88-82 JANUARY Wed. 3 at Rhode Island L, 69-66 Sat. 6 MASSACHUSETTS L, 79-7 Wed. at Duquesne W, 79-63 Sat. 3 at Dayton L, 84-82 Tue. 6 NEW JERSEY INST. TECH W, 78-59 Thu. 8 PENNSYLVANIA L, 93-92 Sun. 2 at Saint Bonaventure L, 87-73 Wed. 24 RICHMOND W, 79-56 Sat. 27 FORDHAM L, 62-54 Wed. 3 at Charlotte L, 87-8 FEBRUARY Sun. 4 at Temple L, 89-64 Wed. 7 DUQUESNE L, -5 Sat. SAINT JOSEPH'S (Palestra) L, 72-5 Wed. 4 TEMPLE W, 77-72 Sat. 7 at Saint Louis L, 59-55 Sat. 24 GEORGE WASHINGTON 2: PM Wed. 28 at Massachusetts 7: PM MARCH Sat. 3 XAVIER 2: PM Wed.-Sat. Atlantic Championships (Boardwalk Hall - Atlantic City, NJ) HOME GAMES IN BOLD CAPS
Giannini, John Dr. Head Coach, 24- Year Record School Postseason 989-9 7- Rowan NJAC Tournament, ECAC Tournament 99-9 2-8 Rowan NJAC Tournament, NCAA Tournament 99-92 2-7 Rowan NJAC Tournament, ECAC Tournament 992-93 29-2 Rowan NJAC Tournament, NCAA Tournament 993-94 26-2 Rowan NJAC Tournament, NCAA Tournament 994-95 27-4 Rowan NJAC Tournament, NCAA Tournament 995-96 28-4 Rowan NJAC Tournament, NCAA Champions 996-97 7-2 Maine America East Tournament 997-98 -2 Maine America East Tournament 998-99 9-9 Maine America East Tournament, Semifinals 999-24-7 Maine America East Tournament, Semifinals 2-8- Maine America East Tournament, Semifinals 2-2 2-8 Maine America East Tournament, Final 22-3 4-6 Maine America East Tournament, Quarterfinals 23-4 2- Maine America East Tournament, Final 24-5 -9 La Salle Atlantic Tournament, Quarterfinals 25-6 8- La Salle Atlantic Tournament, Quarterfinals 26-7 -7 La Salle TOTAL 33-95 (.629) Doc s Remedies (La Salle) - First wins at Richmond, Xavier (Cintas), Rhode Island - Most A- wins in a season ( in 5-6) - Highest finish since joining A- (3rd in 5-6) - First winning season ( 5-6) since 993-93 - Most wins ( 5-6) since 99-92 - First Big 5 win in four years (vs. Temple) - First win over Dayton in games R O S T E R A N D S E A S O N S T A T S Pos. No. Name PPG RPG Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School G Darnell Harris 4.3 2.8 Jr. 6-65 Baltimore, MD/St. Frances Academy G Rodney Green 3. 5. Fr. 6-5 9 Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter G 34 Ruben Guillandeaux 7. 2. Fr. 6-5 85 Brooklyn, NY/St. Patrick s (NJ) F 42 Mike St. John 4.8 5.6 Sr. 6-8 25 Northboro, MA/River School F 2 Yves Mekongo Mbala 8.2 5.9 Fr. 6-7 2 Elizabeth, NJ/St. Patrick s (NJ) Reserves G 2 Sean Neal.6.5 Sr. 6-2 85 Springfield, MA/Salisbury School F 35 Brad Cohen 2.7.3 So. 6-3 2 Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional G 5 Kimmani Barrett 8.4 3.6 Fr. 6-6 9 Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic F 4 Brian Grimes 4. 2.5 Fr. 6-7 22 Ft. Washington, PA/Germantown Academy (Brewster) F 3 Sherman Diaz 5.2.8 Jr. 6-4 9 Diego Martin, Trinidad & Tobago/Life Center Ac. (Burlington, NJ) F Paul Johnson 6. 2.6 So. 6-6 95 Washington, DC/Gonzaga
La Salle Explorers Career Statistics Player GP/GS MIN AVG FG-FGA PCT 3FG-3FGA PCT FT-FTA PCT OR DR TOT AVG PF FO A TO B S PTS AVG Barrett 27-4 57 9. 72-3.55 3-2.25 8-97.825 54 42 96 3.6 4 22 32 4 3 227 8.4 Cohen 6-.7 3-2.25-3.333 -. 2.3 2 8.3 Diaz 62-828 3.4 9-22.45 28-8.35 35-42.833 46 72 8.9 88 2 52 57 38 37 245 4. Green 27-26 72 26.4 36-246.553-8. 83-22.68 62 77 39 5. 8 3 52 74 5 29 355 3. Grimes 27-333 2.3 39-3.379-3. 3-45.667 26 42 68 2.5 24 3 26 4 5 8 4. Guillandeaux 27-2 665 /24.6 68-67.47 23-54.426 3-37.838 45 55 2. 4 67 52 2 2 9 7. Harris 8469 277 33. 363-92.42 2-572.362 32-63.8 25 22 237 2.8 47 2 3 5 2 79 68 2.7 Johnson 55-25 984 7.9 23-246.5-39.256 66-2.55 76 87 63 3. 87 48 73 2 35 322 5.9 Mekongo Mbala 27-25 688 25.5 83-86.446 4-29.38 5-89.573 66 92 58 5.9 7 4 38 54 3 7 22 8.2 Neal 74-5 666 9. 28-85.329 2-37.324 22-44.5 4 4 45.6 64 67 42 44 9.2 St. John 4-77 299 26.2 22-57.426 5-68.34 2-28.555 2 4 622 5.5 33 68 69 23 78 62 5.4 HOW TO GET TO A.C. The Explorers began the day in 3th in the Atlantic and out of the post-season torunament. The Explorers and St. Bonaventure each have three wins in conference play but the Bonnies own the tie-breaker by virtue of their win over the Explorers. Therefore the Explorers need one win without another Bonnies win or two wins if SBU pulls out another win. DOMINATING THE GLASS Saturday s loss at St. Louis came in spite of their 33-22 edge in rebounding over the EXPLORERS ON VIDEO! Beginning with the Explorers game against Richmond on /24 all home men and women s basketball games will be seen live through video streaming on GoExplorers.com RADIO The La Salle Radio Network enters its th year of carrying La Salle University men s basketball. ESPN 92 returns as the flagship for all broadcasts. All games can also be heard live around the world via the internet on GoExplorers.com. Kale Beers will handle play-by-play for his th season while Steve Degler enters his th season as color analyst. Ed Fitzpatrick will handle production assistant and courtside reporting duties in his third year with LRN. Billikens. The Explorers own the second-best rebounding margin in the A- at +6.5 rpg. That margin is also 23rd in the nation. EXPLORERS IN THE NATION Rodney Green 55.3% FG (4st) Darnell Harris 4% 3FG (46th) EXPLORERS ON THE AIR A BIG PIECE OF THE PIE The five freshmen account for 56.5% (/948) of the Explorers scoring. Only Richmond s seven-person freshmen class accounts for more (67%) of their team s total offense. They also account for 53.9% of the total game minutes (295/54) THE FUTURE IS NOW Only Duquesne has earned more Atlantic Rookie of the Week honors than the Explorers whose Rodney Green (3) and Kimmani Barrett () have earned four. All of the Dukes honors went to Robert Mitchell whom the Explorers held to 7 points in two games. DEJA VU The Explorers win over Temple was a carbon-copy of the teams series in the 25-6 season, where the Owls beat the Explorers 68-52 at Temple on January 4th then lost by six COLLEGE SPORTS TELEVISION (CSTV) Coming in January, La Salle will enter into an on-line partnership with College Sports Television. The agreement will align Explorer Athletics with the nation s leader in sports web development. In addition to streamling the look of GoExplorers.com and offering a multiude of new multimedia features, videostreaming of home basketball games. Use of CSTV s innovative Gametracker software is scheduled to be used at all La Salle homes effective immediately. TELEVISION SCHEDULE (Tentative) The CSTV relationship Dec. 23 Villanova 4: is an extension of a Jan. 6 Massachusetts 4: larger agreement with Feb. 7 at Saint Louis 8: Atlantic Conference Feb. 24 Geo. Washington 2: to become the exclusive media partner of Mar. 3 Xavier 2: Fox -Ohio Television schedule is tentative and can change. A- Athletics. CSTV Additional games may be added necesitating game has purchased all television rights and all 4- time changes member schools will become CSTV On-line partners.
(62-56) at Gola Arena on Feb. 4. This year it was a 25-point road loss they avenged. THE BIG SWING The 3-point turn-around between La Salle s 25-point loss to Temple and their five-point win over the Owls days later represents the biggest swing in scoring difference by a La Salle team against a common opponent in the regular season since joining the A- in 996. It is also the largest in-season swing since 957, when the Explorers lost 93-68 to Muhlenberg on February 2, only to come back two and half weeks later to claim a 99-82 victory over the Mules. That February 9 win created a 42-point swing in a span of 7 days. PITCHING IN RELIEF After starting 35 straight games going back to his sophomore season, Darnell Harris s ankle injury has brought him off the bench in the past two games. He has scored 29 points in those substitution appearances - including 24 aginst Temple. PUTTING IT AWAY Clutch free-throw shooting contributed largely to the Explorers win against Temple. They shot 26-34 (76.5%) for the game and were 2-6 in the final 6.3 of play. In the Explorers previous two late-minute defeats (Duquesne/Charlotte) the oppnents shot a combined 3-3 (96.7%) from the free throw line in the final 6+ minutes including Charlotte s 2-2 performance to close out the game. In the close losses to Duquesne, Charlotte and Penn, the opponents shot 5-6 (84%) from the stripe in the closing minutes. time in two seasons. HARRIS HURTING Junior Darnell Harris continues to struggle through an ankle injury sustained in the final 3.3 of the Fordham loss. He likely will not practice on the bum wheel anymore this season to preserve it for game conditions. Harris nailed four of his six three pointers against Temple to come off the bench for 24 points. BARRETT IS A- ROOKIE OF THE WEEK With 29 points and nine rebounds in a pair of Atlantic losses Kimmani Barrett earned Atlantic Rookie of the Week honors for the week of Feb. 2. The honor is the fourth for the Explorers who have seen Rodney Green named A- R-o- W three times already. Only Duquesne - whose Robert Mitchel is a five-time R-o-W winner- has more rookie honorees. PROJECTING THE FUTURE At their current rate at least three of the Explorers five freshmen are on track to become -point scorers (assuming at least 25 points per season). Coming into tonight s game - with at least four games remaining Rodney Green has 35 points, Kimmani Barrett, 29 and Yves Mekongo Mbala 27. Ruben Guillandeaux is not far off the pace with 82. BROTHERLY LOVE? In their last two losses against Explorer Trends The Explorers When... Scoring less then 6 points...-6 Scoring 6-69 points-... 3-4 Scoring 7-79 points-...4-2 Scoring 8-89 points-... 2-3 Scoring 9 or more points-...- Scoring or more points...- Allowing less than 6 points-... 2-2 Allowing 6-69 points-...4-5 Allowing 7-79 points-...4-3 Allowing 8-89 points-...-4 Allowing 9 points or more-...-2 Field goal percentage 5% or better-...5-4 Field goal percentage worse than 5%....5-3 Field goal % better then opponent-...-5 Shooting more free throws than opponent- 6-7 Shooting fewer free throws than opponent-3- Shooting same amount of free throws-...- Winning opening tip-...5-9 Losing opening tip-...4-9 Scoring first-...6-7 Scoring last-...4-9 Leading at halftime-...9-6 Trailing at halftime-...- Tied at halftime-... - Leading with 5: remaining-...-4 Trailing with 5: remaining-...-3 Playing overtime-...- Outrebounding opponent-...- Being outrebounded-...-6 Equal amount of rebounds as opponent-...- Committing fewer turnovers than opponent 4-5 Committing more turnovers than opponent6-2 Committing same amount of turnovers as opponent-...- Wearing gold uniforms...-4 Playing the Atlantic -...3- Playing the America East-...- Playing the Patriot League-...- Playing the Northeast Conference-...3- Playing the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conf.-...- Playing the Colonial Athletic Association-...- Playing the Sun Belt-...- Playing the BIG EAST-...- Playing the Ivy League-... - Playing the Mideastern Atlantic Conference- 2- Monday games-...- Tuesday games-...2- Wednesday games-...4-3 Thursday games-...-3 Friday games-...-2 Saturday games-...3-7 Sunday games-...-2 Day games-...2-5 Night games-...9- November games-...3- December games-...3-6 January games-...3-7 February games-...-4 March games-...- Home-...5-9 Away-...4-6 Neutral-...-2
A-o/City rivals Temple and Saint Joe s, the Explorers lost by a combined point total (47) that is one point shy of the margin of defeat in all other A- games combined (48). They have lost by a combined total of 7 points to Big 5 bretheren Temple, SJU and Villanova and a combined total of 89 points in the other 3 losses. BOARD GAMES While coming out even when outrebounding their oppositon NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS La Salle will face 4 non-conference opponents this season. (Record against conference in parenthesis) MEAC (2-) Howard W, 84-78 Coppin State L, 68-69 Morgan State W, 2-76 Northeast Conference (3-) Mount St. Mary s W, 66-6 Central Connecticut St. W, 86-73 St. Francis - PA W, 69-6 America East (-) UMBC L, 78-67 BIG EAST (-) Villanova L, 64-5 Patriot League (-) Holy Cross L, 68-48 Colonial League (-) Delaware L, 58-56 Ivy League(-) Penn L, 93-92 MAAC (-) Niagara L, 88-82 Independent (2-) Texas - Pan American W, 64-63 NJIT W, 78-59 THE LAST TIME LA SALLE... Scored points 2/7/7 vs. Duquesne (5) Scored 9 points /8/7 vs. Penn (92) Scored 5 or fewer points 2/28/6 vs. Holy Cross (48) Gave up points 2/7/7 vs. Duquesne () Gave up less than 5 points 2/8/6 at Massachusetts (44) Won by 2 points 2/2/6 vs. Morgan State (2-76) (-) this season, the Explorers manage seven more points a game when pulling more boards than their opponents. Meanwhile, they are -6 this season when the other team does the majority of rebounding. CONGRATULATIONS DARNELL With his 3 points against Charlotte last week, junior Darnell Harris became just the 45th Explorer in school history to reach the - point mark. THE DECIDING FACTOR The Explorers are now 2-2 when Rodney Green scores less than 3 points and are averaging just 63.5 points per game. They are 8-5 and averaging 82.2 points per game when he scores a baker s dozen or more. HALFTIME HAUL Won by 3 points 2/28/5 vs. St. Francis - PA (85-55) Won eight straight games 989-9 (/9/9-3/5/9) (22 wins) Won seven straight games 25-6 (/29/6-2/8/6) Won six straight games 25-6 (/29/6-2/8/6) Won five straight games 25-6 (/29/6-2/8/6) Won four straight games 25-6 (/29/6-2/8/6) Played an overtime game 2/2/5 vs. Florida International Played a quadruple-ot game 2/8/5 at Central Connecticut St. THE LAST TIME AN EXPLORER... Scored 4 points 2/8/5, Steven Smith at CCSU (4) Scored 3 points /8/7, Darnell Harris vs. Penn (32) Scored 25 points /2/6, Darnell Harris, Howard (27) Grabbed 5 rebounds /26/5, Steven Smith vs. Drexel (5) Had assists 2/6/6, Mike St. John vs. Cent. Conn. St. () Had five steals /6/7, Rodney Green vs. NJIT (5) Had five blocks /3/5, Lewis Fadipe vs. Mt. St. Mary s (5) Made five threes 2/7/7, Darnell Harris vs. Duquesne (5-8) Had a double-double 2//6, Steven Smith at Xavier (23/) Shot % FG /3/7, Rodney Green & Sherman Diaz vs. Charlotte (4-4) Shot % FT 2/5/7, Darnell Harris vs. Temple (8-8)
The Explorers scored the most points in a first half this season against Duquesne on Wednesday, dropping 57 points in the first period against the Dukes. Unfortunately they surrenderred a season-high 64 points in the second-half of that game. PJ TAKES OFF Sophomore Paul Johnson posted a career-high 7 points against Penn, and led the Explorers in scoring for the first time with another 7 against Charlotte. With his points in the Bonnies loss, it marked the second time in his career he scored + points in consecutive games. ON-THE-JOB TRAINING The five Explorer freshmen have wasted no time getting into the action as they have now played over half (295) of the total minutes (54) of game time. They account for of the team s 948 points (57%), and have also pulled down 56 of the team s 994 rebounds (52%). ENCORE PERFORMANCE Rodney Green was named the Atlantic Rookie of the Week for the second straight week and third time this season. He has scored 36 points in his first 22 collegiate games. SEE-SAW BATTLE There were 6 lead changes in the Explorers 93-92 loss to Penn. 4 of those lead changes came in the final :3 of play. FIVE FOR + This year s loss to Duquesne marked the third time the Explorers have a had a game with five players scoring in double digits. Not only did Harris, Green, Guillandeaux, Mekongo Mbala, and Barrett each score more than points, but they combined to score 83 of the 5 points (79%) against the Dukes. GUNNING FOR HISTORY When Darnell Harris hit eight three-pointers against Penn he came one shot short of tying Kareem Townes nine makes in his record-setting 52-point performance against Loyola (IL) on 2/4/95. THIRTY SOMETHING Darnell Harris 32 points scored against Penn are the most scored by an Explorer since Steven Smith dropped 33 on Fordham on 3//6 at Rose Hill Gym. DOWN TO THE WIRE Six of the Explorers 22 games (Coppin St. UTPA, Delaware, Rhode Island, Dayton and Penn) have been decided on one of the teams final possessions of the game. The Explorers won only one of the affairs on Darnell Harris three-point buzzer beater against Texas Pan-Am. The Delaware and Rhode Island games ended with would-be game-tying Explorer shots just barely missing. HITTING THEIR STRIDE Since the start of Atlantic Conference play freshmen have been four of the team s top-five scorers behind only Darnell Harris. THREE S COMPANY After posting 4 points, rebounds, and seven steals in the final two non-conference games of the season, freshman Rodney Green earned his second in a row and third overall Rookie of the Week nod from the Atlantic. GETTING ACCLIMATED: In the first two years of Dr. John Giannini s tenure at La Salle the Explorers have gained first-time victories at: Rhode Island, Richmond (26), and Xavier s Cintas Center (26). GLASS CLEANERS: The Explorers have been outrebounded only six times this season and own a +6.5 advantage on the glass. Freshman Yves Mekongo Mbala leads the team in rebounding with 5.9 boards per game after pulling down seven against Temple. WINNING COMFORTABLY In their ten wins the Explorers are averaging over a 2-point margin of victory. BUCKETS The 85 combined points scored by the Explorers and the Penn Quakers in the Big 5 battle are the most scored in a La Salle regulation-length game since the team scored a 9-93 (22) win over Tennesse Tech on 2/29/94 in the Big Island Classic at Hilo, HA. It also ranked as the fourth-highest score in a regulation Big 5 game. SHARING THE BURDEN Led by junior Darnell Harris 4 times, seven different Explorers have led the team in scoring this season. On nine occasions the leading scoring was a freshman.
WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS Despite the loss to Niagara on December 3th, Ruben Guillandeaux and Yves Mekongo Mbala toppled 2 career high records combined. Ruben set new highs in four categories, including points (9) and minutes played (3). Yves nearly doubled his previous points, scoring 23 against the Purple Eagles. He also broke his records in field goals (7), free throws (7), and shooting from the foul line (.875). GREEN NAMED ATLANTIC ROOKIE AND BIG 5 PLAYER OF THE WEEK After his 25-point showing at Central Connecticut, Rodney Green earned the first weekly honors of his career by being Atlantic Rookie of the Week and Big 5 Co-Player of the Week for 2/6. RARIFIED AIR The 5 points scored in the Duquesne game was the most since their 2 points scored in this season s game against Morgan State. It was the most points scored in a regulation game since defeating Tennessee Tech 9-93 in the Big Island Classic in Hilo-Hawaii on 2/23/93. It was just the second time the Explorers hit in Tom Gola Arena. ENOUGH TO GO AROUND When Yves Mekongo Mbala set a career-high with 23 points against Niagara, he became the fifth different Explorer to lead the team in scoring (Harris, Green, Diaz, Barrett) in the first 22 games of the season. RARE POWER OUTAGE When Darnell Harris went - in the first half against CCSU it was the first time he had been shut out for an entire half since Senior Day 26 when St. Louis held him scoreless in the Explorers 62-52 win. NO-LOSS NOVEMBER The win over St. Francis was the seventh consecutive Explorer win in the month of November going back to the 4-5 season when they wrapped up the month with a stunning 7-63 win over Southern California. They are now 6-2 in games played in that month during the John Giannini era. THE BIG GUY CAN PASS In addition to setting a career-high with assists against CCSU, St, John s helpers were the most from an Explorer since Julian Blanks dealt on 2/3/2 against Temple. Since then St. John has added 59 more, putting his team-leading average at 2.9 assists per game. HUSTLE POINTS The Explorers scored 3 points in 4 minutes and 5 seconds from the 4.24 -.9 marks of the second half in their loss to UMBC on December 7. The field goal at 4.24 was their first score since Paul Johnson s layup with 3.24 remaining. STRANGE DAYS The Explorers finished the UMBC game with four players in double-digits - the first time this season that has occurred. Prior to the 3-point burst to end the game - the Explorers had no players with more than ten points. of Sherman Diaz 2 points came in the final 3.. STREAK SNAPPER The loss to UMBC marked the Explorers first defeat at Tom Gola Arena since a 7-68 loss to Rhode Island on /8/6. They had gone 7- at The Tom since that narrow defeat. ALL-TOURNEY After scoring 34 points in two days and hitting a game-winning threepointer in Iowa, Darnell Harris was named to the Hawkeye Challenge All-Tourney team along with Iowa s Adam Haluska, Tyler Smith and Justin Johnson, Brian Burrell (UTPA) and Tywain McKee (Coppin State). GREEN IN NAME ALONE Although just a freshman, Rodney Green seems to be adapting to his role as a starter quite well. He has reached double-figures in scoring in 2 of his 27 collegiate games, is second on the team in points per game (3.) and is second in minutes played (26.4). NEWCOMERS There are five new faces on the Explorers roster this season. Kimmani Barrett, Rodney Green, Brian Grimes, Ruben Guillandeaux and Yves Mekongo Mbala are the freshman on Giannini's roster. BONUS VIDEO COVERAGE Saturday s game against George Washington - which is part of the CSTV Networks syndicated package (aired locally on Comcast SportsNet) - has been made available to subcscribers of EXTV All-Access. EXTV All-Access Subscribers will also be able to see the Explorers at Massachusetts onwdnesday night as well. Fans can subscribe to EXTV All-Access for $6.95 per month which allows them to view Explorer home, non-network games, on GoExplorers.com
Barrett is a 6-foot-6 forward from Paterson, NJ, who was named Herald News Boys Basketball Player of the Year in 25 at Paterson Catholic. Another forward, 6-foot-7 Grimes is from Ft. Washington, PA who attended Prep School at Brewster Academy in NH. At 6-5, Green is a native of Philadelphia, graduating from Prep Charter and named first-team all State in Pennsylvania. Guillandeaux, a 6-5 freshman from Brooklyn, NY and Mekongo Mbala, a 6-7 forward from Elizabeth, NJ are both graduates of St. Patrick's (NJ) who led their team to the New Jersey State Championship. UNCHARTED WATER The Explorers Feb., 26 win at Xavier s Cintas Center marked the first time the team had won in the building and just the second defeat of the Musketeers since joining the Atlantic. The win came after they had lost their previous three outings at Cintas by a combined 84 points. AIR CANADA The Explorers were one of over 2 NCAA DivisonI teams who travelled to Canada over Labor Day weekend to partake in a training tour and match-up against some of Canada s finest collegians. The Explorers went 2-2 on the weekend with a paironepoint losses, including a 76-75 overtime defeat at Carleton University - the four-time defending Canadian National Champion. Univ. Ottowa - 89 La Salle - 88 La Salle - 9 Laurentian - 69 Carleton - 76 La Salle - 75 (OT) La Salle -94 Algonquin - 57 Four-day Totals (unofficial): Player: Points/Rebounds (games) Johnson 45/23 (4) Diaz 22/8 (4) Harris 53/5 (2) Mekongo Mbala 28/9 (4) St. John, M. 6/23 (4) Barrett, K. 57/9 (4) Green, R. 58/8 (4) Cunningham, R. 2/ (4) Guillandeaux, R. 4/9 (4) Grimes, B. 26/9 (4) Cohen, B. 3/ (2) Neal, S. 4/2 (3) FOUR PLAY In 25-6 the Explorers set a new mark for road wins in the Atlantic at 4. THE DR. JOHN GIANNINI SHOW RETURNS The Dr. John Giannini Show will return to The Ugly Moose restaurant for its third season beginning on January 23rd, 27. The show, which airs live on ESPN 92, and is also on GoExplorers. com will begin a run of five dates including a Tuesday night airing on January 23rd. All shows will air at 7: PM and run for one hour. During the show, La Salle University men's head basketball coach Dr. John Giannini will discuss the season and current Explorer basketball topics as well as field questions from the live audience, phone callers and e-mail. The public is encouraged to attend. The host Ugly Moose will offer dinner and assorted specials during the show. The Ugly Moose is located at 443 Shurs Lane in Manayunk. The Dr. John Giannini Show Schedule: Monday, February 5th Monday, February 2th Monday February 26th EXPLORERS IN THE ISLANDS In the next two seasons the Explorers will participate in inseason tournaments in San Juan (26) and St. Thomas. The Explorers will play in their second San Juan Shoot-out and return to St. Thomas for the third time since the tourney s inception. San Juan Field (Nov. 7): Clemson DePaul Mississippi Eastern Michigan University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Paradise Jam (Nov. 8) Miami Wisconsin Connecticut more teams to be announced IT S PRONOUNCED... Kimmani Barrett - Kim-on-ee John Giannini - Ja-nee-nee Ruben Guillandeaux - Roo-bin Gil-LAN-dux Yves Mekongo Mbala - yeev Meh-kungo uhm-ba-la
La Salle Individual Highs POINTS 32 HARRIS, Darnell vs Penn (/8/7) FIELD GOALS MADE 2 HARRIS, Darnell vs Penn (/8/7) FIELD GOAL ATT. 2 HARRIS, Darnell vs Penn (/8/7) FG PCT (min 5 made). (5-5) M. MBALA vs Morgan St. (2/2/6) 3 PT FG MADE 8 HARRIS, Darnell vs Penn (/8/7) 3 PT FG ATTEMPTS 4 HARRIS, Darnell vs Penn (/8/7) 3-PT FG PCT (min 2 made). (2-2) GUILLANDEAUX vs URI (/3/7) FREE THROWS MADE BARRETT, Kimmani vs Temple (2/4/7) FREE THROW ATT 4 BARRETT, Kimmani vs Temple (2/4/7) FT PCT (min 3 made). (8-8) BARRETT, Kimmani vs Temple (2/4/7) REBOUNDS GRIMES, Brian vs Morgan St. (2/2/6) ST. JOHN, Mike vs Duquesne (//7) M.MBALA vs St. Bonaventure (/2/7) ASSISTS ST. JOHN, Mike vs CCSU (2/6/6) STEALS 5 GREEN, Rodney vs NJIT (/6/7) BLOCKED SHOTS 4 DIAZ, Sherman vs UMBC (2/7/6) TURNOVERS 7 JOHNSON, Paul vs MOUNT (/8/6) FOULS 5 Tied nine times La Salle Team Highs POINTS 5 vs Duquesne (2/7/7) FIELD GOALS MADE 37 vs Morgan St. (2/2/6) FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS 67 vs St. Bonaventure (/2/7) 67 vs Duquesne (2/7/7) FG PCT (min 5 made).627(37-59) vs Morgan St. (2/2/6) 3 PT FIELD GOALS MADE vs Penn (/8/7) 3 PT FG ATTEMPTS 2 vs Coppin St. (2//6) 2 vs Penn (/8/7) 3 PT FG PCT.692 ( 9-3) vs Duquesne (2/7/7) FREE THROWS MADE 37 vs Richmond (/24/7) FREE THROW ATTEMPTS 47 vs Richmond (/24/7) FREE THROW PERC..824 (4-7) vs MOUNT (/8/6) REBOUNDS 54 vs Richmond (/24/7) ASSISTS 24 vs Morgan St. (2/2/6) STEALS 3 vs MOUNT (/8/6) BLOCKED SHOTS 6 vs Morgan St. (2/2/6) TURNOVERS 23 vs MOUNT (/8/6) FOULS 3 vs Charlotte (/3/7) La Salle - GAME LOWS POINTS 5 vs Villanova (2/23/6) FIELD GOALS MADE 8 vs Richmond (/24/7) FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS 42 vs MOUNT (/8/6) FG PCT (min 5 made).333 (2-6) vs Fordham (/27/7) 3 PT FIELD GOALS MADE vs Fordham (/27/7) 3 PT FG ATTEMPTS 6 vs Morgan St. (2/2/6) 3 PT FG PCT.83 ( -2) vs St. Joseph s (2//7) FREE THROWS MADE 4 vs St. Louis (2/7/7) FREE THROW ATTEMPTS 7 vs St. Louis (2/7/7) FREE THROW PERCENTAGE.55 (-2) vs St. Joseph s (2//7) REBOUNDS 23 vs St. Joseph s (2//7) ASSISTS 5 vs Fordham (/27/7) STEALS 2 vs Temple (2/4/7) 2 vs St. Louis (2/7/7) BLOCKED SHOTS Tied five times TURNOVERS vs St. Joseph s (2//7) FOULS 2 vs COPPIN ST (2//6) 2 vs Temple (2/4/7) 2 vs Temple (2/4/7) Opponent - GAME HIGHS POINTS vs Duquesne (2/7/7) FIELD GOALS MADE 36 vs Duquesne (2/7/7) FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS 76 vs Duquesne (2/7/7) FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE.578 (37-64) vs MOUNT (/8/6) 3 PT FIELD GOALS MADE 3 vs Duquesne (2/7/7) 3 PT FG ATTEMPTS 3 vs Duquesne (2/7/7) 3 PT FG PERCENTAGE.526 vs Temple (2/4/7) FREE THROWS MADE 26 vs Duquesne (2/7/7) FREE THROW ATTEMPTS 29 vs Duquesne (2/7/7) FREE THROW PERCENTAGE. (8-8) vs Temple (2/4/7) REBOUNDS 39 vs St. Joseph s (2//7) ASSISTS 2 vs St. Bonaventure (/2/7) STEALS 3 Tied three times BLOCKED SHOTS vs UMass (/6/7) TURNOVERS 2 vs MOUNT (/8/6) FOULS 32 vs Richmond (/24/7) Opponent - GAME LOWS POINTS 56 vs Richmond (/24/7) FIELD GOALS MADE 9 vs Delaware (2/29/6) 9 vs Richmond (/24/7) FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS 42 vs Delaware (2/29/6) FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE.328 (9-58) vs NJIT (/6/7) 3 PT FIELD GOALS MADE 3 vs St. Francis - PA (/25/6) 3 vs Duquesne (//7) 3 PT FG ATTEMPTS 4 vs MOUNT (/8/6) 4 vs UTPA (2/2/6) 4 vs St. Louis (2/7/7) 3 PT FG PERCENTAGE.25 ( 3-24) vs CCSU (2/6/6) FREE THROWS MADE 5 vs MOUNT (/8/6) FREE THROW ATTEMPTS 8 vs MOUNT (/8/6) 8 vs Temple (2/4/7) FREE THROW PERCENTAGE.625 ( 5-8 ) vs MOUNT (/8/6) REBOUNDS 22 vs Delaware (2/29/6) 22 vs St. Louis (2/7/7) ASSISTS 7 vs NJIT (/6/7) STEALS 4 vs Morgan St. (2/2/6) BLOCKED SHOTS Tied four times TURNOVERS 7 vs Temple (2/4/7) 7 vs St. Louis (2/7/7) FOULS vs St. Louis (2/7/7) La Salle Individual Game Leaders Led or tied for team lead in scoring: Harris (4), Green (8), Barrett (4), Diaz (2),Mekong Mbala (), Johnson (), St. John () Led or tied for team lead in rebounding: Mekogno Mbala (), St. John (), Green (8), Johnson (3), Grimes (2), Barrett (2), Harris () Led or tied for team lead in assists: St. John (3), Guillandeaux (), Green (8), Diaz (2), Harris (2), Johnson (2), Mekogno Mbala (2), Neal () Double-figure scoring: Green (2), Harris (8), Guillandeaux (7), Mekongo Mbala (6), Barrett (6), Johnson (5), Diaz (4). St. John (2), Grimes () Double-figure rebounding: - Grimes (), St. John (), Mekongo Mbala () Double-doubles: -
La Salle Basketball Career/Season Highs (Please Note that These Numbers are Accurate - Do Not Refer to the Media Guide for Returning Player Career Highs) Season Highs (6-7) Career Highs Mike St. John Points vs St. Louis (2/7/7) 5 vs Seton Hall (/3/4) Minutes 35 vs Penn (/8/7) 37 vs Xavier (3/2/5) FGM 5 vs Holy Cross (2/28/6) 6 vs Hofstra (/24/4) FGA 7 vs Villanova (2/23/6) four times 7 vs St. Bonaventure (/2/7) 3PM 2 vs Niagara (2/3/6) 3 at Massachusetts (2/8/6) 3 at Richmond (2/9/5) 3PA 5 vs Niagara (2/3/6) 7 vs Cent. Conn. St. (2/8/4) FTM 4 vs CCSU (2/6/6) 6 vs FIU (2/2/5) FTA 6 vs NJIT (/6/7) 8 vs FIU (2/2/5) 6 vs Richmond (/24/7) Rebounds vs Duquesne (//7) 5 vs Richmond (2/9/5) Assists vs CCSU (2/6/6) vs CCSU (2/6/6) Blocks vs Texas Pan-Am (2/2/6) 2 vs Cent. Conn. St. (2/8/4) vs Charlotte (/3/7) vs Temple (2/4/7) Steals 3 vs CCSU (2/6/6) 5 vs St. Francis (2/28/5) Sherman Diaz Points 9 at Saint Francis (/25/6) 9 at Saint Francis (/25/6) Minutes 3 at Saint Francis (/25/6) 3 at Saint Francis (/25/6) FGM 8 at Saint Franics (/25/6) 8 at Saint Francis (/25/6) FGA at Saint Francis (/25/6) at Saint Francis (/25/6) 3PM 3 vs Mount St Mary s (/8/6) 3 Tied four times 3PA 6 vs. Mount St Mary s (/8/6) 6 vs. Mount St Mary s (/8/6) 6 vs UMBC (2/7/6) 6 vs UMBC (2/7/6) FTM 4 vs Niagara (2/3/6) 4 four times 4 vs Richmond (/24/7) FTA 4 vs Niagara (2/3/6) 6 vs Southern California (/3/4) 4 vs Richmond (/24/7) Rebounds 6 vs vs. Texas Pan-Am (2/2/6) 6 five times Assists 5 vs Howard (/2/6) 5 vs Howard (/2/6) Steals 3 vs Mount St Mary s (/8/6) 3 at Cincinatti (2/22/4) 3 vs Mount St. Mary s (/8/6) Blocks 4 vs UMBC (2/7/6) 4 vs UMBC (2/7/6)
La Salle Basketball Career/Season Highs (Please Note that These Numbers are Accurate - Do Not Refer to the Media Guide for Returning Player Career Highs) Sean Neal Season Highs Career Highs Points 5 vs Holy Cross (2/28/6) 8 at American (2/28/4) Minutes 6 vs Morgan St. (2/2/6) 34 at Duquesne (2/23/5) FGM 2 vs Holy Cross (2/28/6) 3 at American (2/28/4) FGA 3 vs CCSU (2/6/6) 6 at Cincinatti (2/22/4) 3PM vs CCSU (2/6/6) 2 at Hofstra (/24/4) vs Holy Cross (2/28/6) vs Duquesne (2/7/7) 3PA vs CCSU (2/6/6) 3 three times vs Holy Cross (2/28/6) vs Duquesne (2/7/7) FTM 2 vs Morgan St. (2/2/6) 4 at St. Joseph s (/5/5) FTA 4 vs Morgan St. (2/2/6) 6 at St. Joseph s (/5/5) Rebounds 2 vs Morgan St. (2/2/6) 2 four times 2 vs NJIT (/6/7) Assists 5 vs Duquesne (2/7/7) 6 at Lafayette (/29/3) Blocks - - Steals 3 vs Holy Cross (2/28/6) 5 vs. Duquesne (2/23/5) 5 at Lafayette (/29/3) Darnell Harris Points 32 vs Penn (/8/7) 32 vs Penn (/8/7) Minutes 38 tied four times 54 at Cent. Conn. (2/8/5) FGM 2 vs Penn (/8/7) 2 vs Penn (/8/7) FGA 2 vs Penn (/8/7) 2 vs Penn (/8/7) 3PM 8 vs Penn (/8/7) 8 vs Penn (/8/7) 3PA 4 vs Penn (/8/7) 4 vs Penn (/8/7) FTM 8 vs Temple (2/4/7) 8 vs Temple (2/4/7) FTA 8 vs Temple (2/4/7) 8 at American (2/28/4) 8 vs Temple (2/4/7) Rebounds 7 vs Richmond (/24/7) 9 at Massachusetts (2/8/6) Assists 6 vs UMBC (2/7/6) 6 vs UMBC (2/7/6) Steals 4 vs Fordham (/27/7) 5 vs FIU (2/2/5) Blocks at Saint Francis (/25/6) 2 at Cincinatti (2/22/4) vs UMBC (2/7/6)
La Salle Basketball Career/Season Highs (Please Note that These Numbers are Accurate - Do Not Refer to the Media Guide for Returning Player Career Highs) Season Highs Career Highs Paul Johnson Points 7 vs Penn (/8/7) 7 vs Penn (/8/7) Minutes 27 vs Charlotte (/3/7) 34 at Cent. Conn. (2/8/5) FGM 7 vs Penn (/8/7) 7 vs Penn (/8/7) 7 vs Charlotte (/3/7) 7 vs Charlotte (/3/7) FGA 4 vs Charlotte (/3/7) 4 vs Charlotte (/3/7) 3PM 2 vs Penn (/8/7) 3 at Cent. Conn. (2/8/5) 3PA 4 vs Penn (/8/7) 6 at Cent. Conn. (2/8/5) FTM 5 vs Morgan St. (2/2/6) 6 vs Duquesne (/4/6) FTA vs Morgan St. (2/2/6) vs Morgan St. (2/2/6) Rebounds 8 vs NJIT (/6/7) 8 vs NJIT (/6/7) Assists 6 vs Penn (/8/7) 6 vs Penn (/8/7) Steals 2 vs Holy Cross (2/28/6) 5 at James Madison (2//5) Blocks vs Mount St. Mary s (/8/6) seven times vs Duquesne (//7) vs Charlotte (/3/7)
FRESHMEN La Salle Basketball Career/Season Highs Kimmani Barrett Points 9 vs Temple (2/4/7) FGM 7 vs Morgan St. (2/2/6) FGA 4 Morgan St. (2/2/6) 3PM vs Howard (/2/6) vs UMBC (2/7/6) vs URI (/3/7) 3PA 2 vs Temple (2/4/7) FTM vs Temple (2/4/7) FTA 4 vs Temple (2/4/7) FT PCT (min 3 made). ( 6-6 )vs Duquesne (2/7/7) Rebounds 8 vs Temple (2/4/7) Assists 3 vs Richmond (/24/7) Steals 2 vs UMBC (2/7/6) Blocks vs UMass (/6/7) vs Richmond (/24/7) vs Duquesne (2/7/7) Minutes 29 vs Duquesne (2/7/7) 29 vs Temple (2/4/7) Rodney Green Points 25 vs CCSU (2/6/6) FGM vs CCSU (2/6/6) FGA 7 vs Penn (/8/7) 3PA Tied four times FTM vs NJIT (/6/7) FTA 2 vs NJIT (/6/7) FT PCT (min 3 made). (7-7) vs Charlotte (/3/7) Rebounds 8 Tied five times Assists 6 vs UTPA (2/2/6) Steals 5 vs NJIT (/6/7) Blocks 2 vs Temple (2/4/7) Minutes 35 vs Villanova (2/23/6) Brian Grimes Points 3 vs CCSU (2/6/6) FGM 5 vs CCSU (2/6/6) FGA vs CCSU (2/6/6) 3PA vs UMass (/6/7) FTM 6 vs Holy Cross (2/28/6) FTA 8 vs Holy Cross (2/28/6) FT PCT (min 3 made).75 (3-4) Tied four times Rebounds vs Morgan St. (2/2/6) Assists 2 vs UMBC (2/7/6) 2 vs Duquesne (//7) 2 vs St. Louis (2/7/7) Steals 3 vs Howard (/2/6) Blocks Tied four times Minutes 26 vs UMass (/6/7) Ruben Guillandeaux Points 9 vs Niagara (2/3/6) FGM 9 vs Niagara (2/3/6) FGA 3 vs URI (/3/7) 3PM 3 vs Charlotte (/3/7) 3PA 4 vs NJIT (/6/7) 4 vs Charlotte (/3/7) FTM 9 vs Duquesne (2/7/7) FTA vs Duquesne (2/7/7) Rebounds 4 Tied five times Assists 6 vs Villanova (2/23/6) Steals eight times Blocks vs Charlotte (/3/7) Minutes 36 vs URI (/3/7) Yves Mekongo Mbala Points 23 vs Niagara (2/3/6) FGM 7 vs Niagara (2/3/6) FGA 5 vs St. Bonaventure (/2/7) 3PM 2 vs Niagara (2/3/6) 3PA 5 vs Niagara (2/3/6) FTM 7 vs Niagara (2/3/6) FTA 8 vs Niagara (2/3/6) FT PCT (min 3 made). (3-3 ) vs Penn (/8/7) Rebounds vs St. Bonaventure (/2/7) Assists 5 vs Duquesne (2/7/7) Steals 3 vs MOUNT (/8/6) Blocks vs Duquesne (//7) Minutes 33 vs MOUNT (/8/6) 33 vs URI (/3/7) 33 vs St. Bonaventure (/2/7)
GAME SUMMARIES Tue. November 8 Mount St. Mary s 6 EXPLORERS 66 VISITORS: Mount -2 ##Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 4ATUPEM, Sam 6-8 - -2 4 5 2 3 2 35 45MITCHELL, Markus 2-2 - - 2 3 5 5 3 5 2 27 GOODE, Jeremy 5- -3-3 2 2 2 6 5 3 36 2 VANN, Chris 4-6 2-3 - 4 2 2 26 3 KEARSE, Mychal 5-2 -5 2-2 5 5 2 3 4 3 36 5 BEIDLER, Kelly 2-4 - - 2 5 9 HOLLAND, Will -5-2 - 3 5LOUGHRY, Jason - - - 2 4 2 2 8 TEAM 3 3 Totals 25-48 5-4 5-8 8 5 23 2 6 3 2 9 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 4-24 58.3% 2nd Half: -24 45.8% Game: 52.% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 4-7 57.% 2nd Half: -7 4.3% Game: 35.7% REBS F Throw % st Half: 3-3 % 2nd Half: 2-5 4.% Game: 62.5% 2 HOME TEAM: La Salle - 3 DIAZ, Sherman 3-6 3-4 - 2 9 4 3 22 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 4-8 - 3-4 2 3 5 3 33 42 ST. JOHN, Mike -2 - - 5 6 3 2 5 27 GREEN, Rodney 4-7 - 3-4 2 3 2 3 29 HARRIS, Darnell 8-3 5-7 4-4 2 25 5 4 34 JOHNSON, Paul 2-2 - - 2 4 3 7 6 5 BARRETT, Kimmani - - 4-4 6 3 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben -2 - - 2 3 4 GRIMES, Brian - - - 3 3 TEAM 3 2 5 Totals 22-42 8-3 4-7 8 6 24 3 66 7 23 2 3 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 4-23 6.9% 2nd Half: 8-9 42.% Game: 52.4% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 4-6 66.7% 2nd Half: 4-7 57.% Game: 6.5% REBS F Throw % st Half: 5-7 7.4% 2nd Half: 9-9.% Game: 82.4% Tue. November 2 Howard 78 EXPLORERS 84 VISITORS: Howard -3 TOT FG 3PT REBOUNDS 22 SMITH, Jeron 2-4 - 4-4 2 8 6 4 26 33 MYATT, Eugene -5 3-3 3-3 4 5 2 26 4 2 27 54 KIRKPATRICK, Paul - - - 2 2 4 4 GRANT, Will 2-8 2-7 - 2 2 6 2 5 HUDSON, Darryl 2-5 -2 6-7 3 3 2 3 29 WHITE, Curtis -3-2 - 3 7 MUKOLE, Kandi 2-3 - - 2 4 4 6 3 MITCHELL, Derek -3-2 - 2 2 5 2 GREENE, Stanley -2-2 - 4 3 7 4 HEARN, Julius -3-2-4 2 4 2 4 32 TROTTER, Jason 4-7 - -2 3 4 7 9 2 3 2 34 COOPER, Nate - - - 2 4 TEAM 2 2 Totals 27-55 8-9 6-2 9 8 27 6 78 4 8 4 6 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 4-29 48.3% 2nd Half: 3-26 5.% Game: 49.% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 3-9 33.3% 2nd Half: 5-5.% Game: 42.% REBS F Throw % st Half: 7-8 87.5% 2nd Half: 9-2 75.% Game: 8.% 2 HOME TEAM: La Salle 2-3 DIAZ, Sherman 2-5 -3 2-2 4 5 3 6 5 3 2 26 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 2-4 - - 3 3 4 4 2 4 42 ST. JOHN, Mike 2-5 - - 2 3 2 4 3 2 8 GREEN, Rodney 7-9 - 3-4 3 3 4 7 2 2 HARRIS, Darnell -5 4-6 3-3 6 6 27 2 3 38 JOHNSON, Paul 6-8 - 2-6 3 5 2 23 5 BARRETT, Kimmani 2-4 - -2 4 5 5 2 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben 2-6 - 2-2 3 4 6 3 3 25 4 GRIMES, Brian -3 - - 3 4 TEAM 2 2 Totals 33-59 6-2-9 2 2 33 9 84 9 5 3 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 6-29 55.2% 2nd Half: 7-3 56.7% Game: 55.9% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 4-5 8.% 2nd Half: 2-6 33.3% Game: 54.5% REBS F Throw % st Half: 3-5 6.% 2nd Half: 9-4 64.3% Game: 63.2% 3 PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle Explorers (-) were led by junior Darnell Harris' (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances) 25 points and a pair of freshman who scored points each to defeat Mount St. Mary's (- 2) on Saturday afternoon at Tom Gola Arena. Making their collegiate debuts were the Explorers' five freshmen including Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) and Yves Mekongo Mbala (Elizabeth, NJ/St. Patrick) who each scored points. The Mount opened a seven point lead in the first half at -4 before Harris, who was held scoreless for the first 4.3 of the first half, erupted with the first of his five three pointer to draw his team within four. Harris would go on to score the game's next ten points in less than 9 seconds including another three-pointer, a short jumper and a pair of free throws to give his team a 4- lead. The Explorers and The Mountaineers traded leads ten times in the game with the Explorers taking the lead for good when Harris threw down a dunk to make it 39-38 at the 7:33 mark of the second half. La Salle built as much as a 2-point lead at 54-42 on the second of two of freshman Kimmani Barrett's (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic) free throws with :39 remaining in the game. The Mount was able to cut the lead to three points with just 37 seconds to play and forced an Explorer turnover but could not cash in on the ensuing possessions allowing Harris to get fouled on an inbounds and subsequently hit two free throws to seal the win. Junior Sherman Diaz (Life Center/Diego Martin/Trinidad & Tobago) scored nine points on 3-4 shooting from the arc. The win was the Explorers' second straight on opening day after last year's 7-55 win at Maryland-Baltimore County. It also evened head coach Dr. John Giannnini's record at La Salle at 29-29 in his third season. PHILADELPHIA, PA - Junior Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances Academy) bested his career high with a 27-point effort to lead the way in an 84-78 La Salle (2-) victory over the Howard Bison (-3) on Tuesday night at Tom Gola Arena. The Explorers and the Bison exchanged the lead 6 times before Sherman Diaz (Life Center/Diego Martin, Trinidad & Tobago) hit a pair of free throws with 7:37 left to put his team up for the remainder of the game. Diaz would score six points and dish out a game-high five assists. Earlier in the game Howard had built a six-point lead at 36-3 with 2:8 left in the first half before a 9-2 run to close the half ended with a Kimmani Barrett (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic) three-pointer at the buzzer to send the Explorers into the break with a 39-38 lead. Harris, who also set a new career mark with a team-high six rebounds in the effort, was -5 from the field and 4-6 from the stripe bringing his two-game total to 52 points on 8-28 shooting including 9-3 from the three-point arc. Freshman Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) played only 2 minutes but scored a career-high 7 points on seven shots (7-9) before leaving the game with foul trouble. Also enjoying a career night was sophomore Paul Johnson (Washington, DC/Gonzaga) who posted 5-points on 6-8 shooting. Eight of the Explorers' nine players found their way to the basket in a game where the the team posted its most points in a regulation contest since scoring 85 on St. Francis last season on December 28 at Tom Gola Arena. The win brings Explorer head coach Dr. John Giannini to 3-29 at the school with 2 of those wins coming in the last 3 games. The Explorers have not lost a game in November since a 79-59 loss at Hofstra on the 24th day of the month in 24. Since then they are 6- in games played in the season's opening month.
GAME SUMMARIES Sat. November 25 St. Francis 6 EXPLORERS 69 Home Team: St. Francis 2- TOT FG 3PT REBOUNDS 5 BERRY, Chris 6- - 6-2 3 8 4 9 3 5 3 36 23 DIENG, Bassirou - - - 3 3 3 23 2 ENRIGHT, J.R 6-2 -2 4-7 3 6 9 7 4 36 SWEETNEY, Devin 3-3 -3 3-3 3 4 5 9 2 2 2 25 5 NELSON, Cale 2-2 -7-3 5 6 2 33 2 McFARLAND, Chris - - - 3 2 8 3 SURPRENANT, Grant -2-2 - 2 2 33 JACKSON, Kyle - - - 4 34 LAWRENCE, Jelani 2-4 - 4-5 2 3 5 8 2 8 45HOFFMAN, Kurt - - - 6 TEAM 3 3 6 Totals 2-57 3-6 7-28 3 27 4 2 6 2 6 5 7 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 2-3 38.7% 2nd Half: 8-26 3.8% Game: 35.% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: -8 2.5% 2nd Half: 2-8 25.% Game: 8.8% REBS F Throw % st Half: 2-3 66.7% 2nd Half: 5-25 6.% Game: 6.7% 3 Visitors: La Salle 3-3 DIAZ, Sherman 8- -2 2-2 3 4 5 9 2 3 3 2 25 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 3-8 -3-4 4 5 3 7 3 42 ST. JOHN, Mike -4-2-2 5 5 2 5 26 GREEN, Rodney 6-9 - 5-7 4 5 4 7 2 3 28 HARRIS, Darnell 2- -4 4-6 6 6 3 8 2 2 34 JOHNSON, Paul 2-5 - - 2 2 2 5 4 5 BARRETT, Kimmani -3-2-2 2 3 4 4 2 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben -5-2-2 2 8 4 GRIMES, Brian 2-7 - - 4 5 9 4 2 3 TEAM 5 6 Totals 25-6 2-7-24 4 32 46 23 69 7 4 5 8 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 3-33 39.4% 2nd Half: 2-28 42.9 % Game: 4.% DEADR 3-Pt. FG% st Half: -7. % 2nd Half: 2-4 33.3% Game: 8.2% REBS F Throw % st Half: 5-8 62.5% 2nd Half: 2-6 64.3% Game: 7.8% 2 Fri. December Coppin State 69 EXPLORERS 68 Carver-Hawkeye Arena - Iowa City, IA Home Team: La Salle 3-3 DIAZ, Sherman -3 - - 2 2 2 4 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 2-5 - 4-6 3 4 7 2 8 5 2 42 ST. JOHN, Mike -3 - - 5 6 2 3 5 2 29 GREEN, Rodney 7- -2 4-7 4 2 6 4 8 4 29 HARRIS, Darnell 7-9 3-2-2 5 6 9 2 3 38 JOHNSON, Paul 2-4 - -4 2 3 5 5 2 4 2 5 BARRETT, Kimmani 3-7 - - 3 4 7 3 6 9 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben 2-6 -3-5 3 9 4 GRIMES, Brian 2-3 - - 3 3 4 TEAM 2 3 5 Totals 26-6 5-2 -9 2 28 48 2 68 8 8 4 3 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 3-3 43.3% 2nd Half: 3-3 43.3% Game: 43.3% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 4-36.4% 2nd Half: -9.% Game: 25.% REBS F Throw % st Half: 7-7.% 2nd Half: 4-9 44.4% Game: 57.9% 3 VISITORS: Coppin State 2-5 33 HARRISON,Antwan 4-2 - -2 3 3 3 9 3 3 4 PRESSEY,Robert -2 - - 2 4 6 4 2 9 ROBERTS,Darryl 6-2 2-3 -2 3 4 5 2 3 37 22 McKEE,Tywain -2 4-9 5-8 4 5 5 3 5 3 5 38 24 WOODLIN,Augustine - - - 2 2 5 BRITT,Ruben 2-5 -4-2 5 2 6 OTIS,West - - - + 2 BELL,Talmadge - - 2-2 2 6 3 NORWOOD,Michael -2 - - 5 32 CONYERS,Julian - - - 3 34 CHESNUT,Brian -2 - - 2 3 2 2 2 6 44 KENNEDY,Ethan -4-2 - 3 TEAM Totals 26-6 8-9 9-4 8 9 27 2 69 2 3 3 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 2-32 37.5% 2nd Half: 4-29 48.3% Game: 42.6% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 4-2 33.3% 2nd Half: 4-7 57.% Game: 42.% REBS F Throw % st Half: 6-9 66.7% 2nd Half: 3-5 6.% Game: 64.3% 4 LORETTO, PA - The La Salle University Explorers (3-) were led by junior Sherman Diaz' (Diego Martin, Trinidad & Tobago/Life Center) 9 points in handing St. Francis (2-) its first loss of the season with a 69-6 win on Saturday night at DeGol Arena. Freshman Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) contributed 7 points while senior Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances) was limited to eight points total and just four points from the field. The Explorers never trailed in the second half after swapping the lead eight times in the opening frame. Harris, who was held scoreless for the first 9 minutes, sunk a pair of buckets on the team's final two possessions of the half. He would then go 4-6 from the free throw line in the game's final minutes to close out his scoring The Explorers were able to build their lagest lead of the game with 2:57 remaining after Diaz scored lay-ups on back-toback possessions to make the score 45-33. However, the Explorers would manage just six points in the next eight minutes as the Red Flash cut the lead to 49-46 with 6:22 to play. Senior Mike St. John (Northboro, MA/River School) hit his lone basket of the game when he broke his team's -8 slump from beyond the arc to end St. Francis' 4-7 run. St. John would later hit two free throws to help his team hang on for the win. The Explorers are now 5- all-time against Red Flash. The win was the Explorers' seventh straight in the month of November dating back to their defeat of Southern California on /3/4. IOWA CITY, IA The La Salle Explorers (3-) fell to Coppin State (2-5) in a disappointing last minute 69-68 loss in the opening round of the Hawkeye Challenge on Friday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Despite leading by as many as nine points for most of the game, the Explorers could not fend off a second-half Coppin State run that was fueled primarily by the 3 points from Philadelphia native Tywain McKee (Bartram High). Freshman Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) had career highs in points (8), rebounds (6), and assists (4), while junior Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances) had a team-high 9 points. The Eagles kept the game close by capitalizing on a series of turnovers and missed Explorer shots with under two minutes left in the first half to cut a nine-point Explorer lead down to 37-34 at the end of the first period. The Explorers surrendered the lead midway through the second half and swapped leads the rest of the way until freshman Yves Mekongo Mbala (Elizabeth, NJ/St. Patrick s) wrestled an offensive rebound and drew a foul to reach the free-throw line with just over a minute left. Mekongo Mbala made both ends of the one-and-one to give the Explorers their final lead of the game at 67-66. On the ensuing Coppin possession the Explorers forced a stop and Mekongo Mbala found himself on top of another loose ball and drawing a foul. The foul was the fifth on McKee and forced the Eagles leading scorer out of the game. This time, however, Mekongo Mbala missed the first shot of the one-and-one and allowed Darryl Roberts to hit a three-pointer with 8.8 seconds remaining to give his team the lead at 69-67. After an Explorers time-out with 4.4 seconds remaining Green made a drive to the basket and was fouled. He hit the first shot but missed the second to draw the Explorers within a point at 69-68. The rebound was secured by Explorer senior Mike St. John (Northboro, MA/River School) whose reverse lay-up missed the mark at the buzzer.
GAME SUMMARIES Sat. December 2 Texas-Pan American 63 EXPLORERS 64 Carver-Hawkeye Arena - Iowa City, IA Visitors: LaSalle 4-3 DIAZ, Sherman 2-6 -2-3 3 6 4 4 3 5 2 26 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 5- - 3-6 4 5 9 3 3 2 26 42 ST. JOHN, Mike -5-4 - 2 3 4 3 32 GREEN, Rodney 4-7 - 8-2 2 4 6 6 3 33 HARRIS, Darnell 6-2 3-6 - 3 3 2 5 3 32 JOHNSON, Paul - - - 5 BARRETT, Kimmani 4-6 - - 2 2 4 8 2 9 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben -4-2 - 2 2 3 4 GRIMES, Brian - - 3-4 2 3 8 TEAM 3 2 5 Totals 23-52 4-5 4-22 6 2 37 8 64 7 5 3 4 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 9-22 4.9% 2nd Half: 4-3 46.7% Game: 44.2% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 2-7 28.6% 2nd Half: 2-8 25.% Game: 26.7% REBS F Throw % st Half: 5-9 55.6% 2nd Half: 9-3 69.2% Game: 63.6% Home Team: Texas-Pan American 5-2 45 ALLGOOD, Julius 6- - - 4 4 8 3 3 2 23 LIEN, Colin 3-4 - 5-5 2 3 5 2 2 4 STOLL, Paul 2-4 -2-2 4 5 6 7 2 2 26 5 BURRELL, Brian 5-4 2-5 4-5 4 5 6 2 2 4 5 SHANKLE, Dexter 2-3 - - 2 5 24 2 EDWARDS, Kano -4 - - 2 5 CHATMAN, Johnathan -4-4 - 2 3 6 2 SHEPPARD, Larry - - - 2 4 22 ROBINSON, Alex -3 - - 2 2 3 2 32 TRADER, Zach -3-4-4 2 2 4 2 24 TEAM 2 Totals 2-5 7-4 4-8 3 2 33 8 63 6 3 9 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: -25 44.% 2nd Half: -26 38.5% Game: 4.2% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 4-7 57.% 2nd Half: 3-7 42.9% Game: 5.% REBS F Throw % st Half: 4-6 66.7% 2nd Half: -2 83.3% Game: 77.8% Thur. December 7 Maryland - Baltimore County 78 EXPLORERS 67 Visitors: Maryland - Baltimore County 3-5 3 FRY, Justin 6-7 - - 2 3 2 2 2 3 44 HOUSMAN, Mike 4-4 - -2 2 6 8 4 9 2 4 3 32 2 GREENE, Jay 5-2-7 4-4 2 2 6 8 4 38 2 PUGH, Chris. 2-5 -3-2 2 6 2 2 4 37 23 YOUNG, Thomas 6-9 - -3 5 6 3 3 3 25 5 SEABORN, Chris - - - 24 HODGES, Brian 6-6 2-6 8-8 2 3 22 3 2 3 27 TEAM 2 3 Totals 29-5 5-7 5-9 8 9 27 4 78 9 4 3 2 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 4-27 5.9% 2nd Half: 5-24 62.5% Game: 56.9% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 2-2.% 2nd Half: 3-7 42.9% Game: 29.4% REBS F Throw % st Half: 2-2 % 2nd Half: 3-7 76.5% Game: 78.9% Home Team: La Salle 4-2 3 DIAZ, Sherman 5-9 3-6 - 2 2 4 2 3 4 2 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 3-3 - - 3 4 2 6 5 24 42 ST. JOHN, Mike -4 - - 2 4 6 2 4 23 GREEN, Rodney 4-9 - 4-5 3 3 5 2 2 27 HARRIS, Darnell 5-5 3-2 - 4 4 4 3 6 37 JOHNSON, Paul 4-6 - 2-4 2 3 5 3 3 5 5 BARRETT, Kimmani 3-4 - 2-3 2 2 9 4 2 23 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben -3 - - 2 2 2 2 4 GRIMES, Brian -4-2-2 4 2 TEAM 3 3 Totals 25-57 7-22 -5 6 6 32 2 67 3 22 5 6 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 9-9 47.4% 2nd Half: 6-38 42.% Game: 43.9% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: -4 25.% 2nd Half: 6-8 33.3% Game: 3.8% REBS F Throw % st Half: 8-9 88.9% 2nd Half: 2-6 33.3% Game: 66.7% 2, IOWA CITY, IA - With seven seconds remaining in the game and his team winning 63-6, Brian Burrell of Texas - Pan American (5-2) missed the first shot on a oneand-one, allowing freshman Yves Mekongo Mbala (Elizabeth, NJ/St. Patrick's) to grab the rebound. He promptly outleted to Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) who sliced into the lane and dished a pass to Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances) who drilled his third three-pointer of the night to give the La Salle University Explorers (4-) an exciting 64-63 win over the Broncs. The Saturday night win at Carver-Hawkeye Arena gave the Explorers a third-place finish and a - split in the Hawkeye Challenge hosted by the University of Iowa. Just before that squence Green had buried a pair of free throws to halve a four-point Bronc lead at 63-6 and set-up the foul by Sherman Diaz to stop the clock and send Burrell, who led his team with 6 points, to his ill-fated visit at the stripe. Harris, who went 6 for 6 (.375) from the arc in the two-day tourney, and had struggled to make three-pointers at key points thoughout the opening round loss to Coppin State a night earlier finished with 6 off his own points to lead La Salle. It marked the second time he ended a game with a win on walk-off shots. Last season he hit two of three foul shots with no time remining to help the Explorers outlast Central Connecticut ina four-overtime affair in New Britain, CT. The Explorers, who trailed at halftime for the first time all season, were down by as many as seven points in the second half until Green scored on a pair of strong interior moves on consecutive possessions, capping the latter with a made free-throw for a three-point play to give his team a 44-42 edge at the 4:4 mark of the second half. Texas Pan- American would stay within reach and eventually regain the lead with :5 to play when Paul Stoll hit a three-pointer to put the Broncs up 6-59. Explorer senior Mike St. John had a chance to reclaim the lead but missed the first shot of a one-and-one with 42 seconds to play. The Explorers struggled from the stripe for the second consecutive night with just 4-22 (.632) shooting. On the Broncs ensuing possession Stoll made one of two foul shots, missing the second, but the Explorers could not control the rebound which forced them to foul Burrell who hit two shots to give UTPA a 63-59 lead with 23 seconds left. Green drew a foul on the other end and made both free throws to draw within two points at 63-5 with seven seconds remining, thus setting up the dramatic finish. Green finished the game with 6 points while Harris added 5 of his own. Mekongo Mbala came one rebound shy of his first career double-double with 3 points and nine boards. Harris was named to the Hawkeye Challenge All-Tourney team with Burrell, Tywain McKee (Coppin State), and the host Hawkeyes' Justin Johnson, Tyler Smith and Adam Haluska. PHILADELPHIA, PA - The La Salle University Explorers (4-2) trailed Maryland - Baltimore County (4-5) by a score 62-37 with 4:24 to play when they mounted a frenzied finish to come up eleven points short in a 68-67 defeat on Thursday night at Gola Arena. The Explorers surrendered the lead when Chris Pugh hit a jumper at the 5:5 mark of the first half to tie the game at 4-4. Just under two minutes later Plymouth-Whitemarsh product Thomas Young gave his team a 6-4 lead and the Retrievers would never trail again en route to their fourth win of the season. Yves Mekongo Mbala (Elizabeth, NJ/St. Patrick's) tied the game with a lay-up at 2-2 with 4.5 to play in the first but the Retrievers went into the break with a 32-27 lead after holding Explorer leading scorer Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances) to just three points in the first half. In the second half the Explorers got to within four points at 33-29 with a Harris jumper but the Retrievers held La Salle to just points for the first 5.8 of the second half to build as much as a 25-point lead. At this point Harris nailed a three pointer and the Explorers would score 3 points over the next 4.9 after not scoring a field goal for over nine minutes to get the difference down to as little as nine points (73-64) with 5 seconds remaining. In that stretch junior Sherman Diaz (Diego Martin, Trinidad & Tobago/Life Center) would score six points on a lay-up and three threepointers. Freshman Kimmani Barrett (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic) would also hit a three. The effort was futile, however, as the Retrievers shot - from the free throw line in the closing two minutes to preserve the lead. The Explorers placed four players in double-digits for the first time this season. UMBC was led by Brian Hodges' 22 points and sophomore point guard Jay Greene who scored 6 points, dished eight assists and was 4-4 from the stripe.
GAME SUMMARIES Sat. December 6 Central Connecticut 73 EXPLORERS 86 Detrick Gym - New Britain, CT HOME TEAM: Central Connecticut 3-8 POWELL, Dannie 3-4 - 3-5 3 3 2 9 4 2 33 5 NWADIKE, Obie 9-2 - 9-6 5 2 27 2 2 39 22 SOBERS, Jemino 4-7 - 2-3 3 2 5 5 4 5 35 35 BLACKWOOD, Tristan 2-4 -9-4 4 5 4 2 35 44 MOJICA, Javier 5-3 3-7 -2 2 3 4 4 6 4 33 3 MYERS, Jeremy - - - 2 2 4 32 SEYMORE, Joe 2-9 2-7 2-2 4 8 8 5 BEAUDET, Ingo - - - 2 TEAM 3 3 Totals 25-6 6-23 7-23 7 5 32 9 73 6 5 5 6 99 TOTAL FG% st Half: 3-26 5.% 2nd Half: 2-34 35.3% Game: 4.7% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 3-6 5.% 2nd Half: 3-7 7.6% Game: 26.% REBS F Throw % st Half: 5-6 83.3% 2nd Half: 2-7 7.6% Game: 73.9% 2 Visitors: La Salle 5-2 GREEN, Rodney -4-3-4 3 3 6 2 25 2 2 28 HARRIS, Darnell -4-4-4 3 4 2 6 28 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 4- -2 2-4 5 4 9 3 3 3 28 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben 4-6 -2-3 9 3 25 42 ST. JOHN, Mike 2-3 -2 4-4 2 3 5 4 9 3 3 25 JOHNSON, Paul -3 - - 2 2 2 3 DIAZ, Sherman -4-3 - 3 2 5 BARRETT, Kimmani 2-3 - -2 2 3 5 3 2 NEAL, Sean -3 - - 2 3 4 4 GRIMES, Brian 5- - 3-4 2 3 3 2 2 5 TEAM 3 4 7 Totals 32-6 5-7-22 8 22 4 2 86 9 3 8 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 7-32 53.% 2nd Half: 5-29 5.7% Game: 52.5% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 3-7 42.9% 2nd Half: 2-4 5.% Game: 45.5% REBS F Throw % st Half: 4-6 66.7% 2nd Half: 3-6 8.3% Game: 77.3% Wed. December 2 Morgan State 76 EXPLORERS 2 HOME TEAM: LASALLE 6-2 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves. 5-5 - -2 4 5 2 2 2 2 42 ST. JOHN, Mike - - 5-6 5 5 3 7 6 2 2 8 GREEN, Rodney 6-9 - 4-6 3 4 3 6 4 4 2 HARRIS, Darnell 3-3 - - 2 2 7 2 2 2 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben 3-5 -2 2-4 3 3 9 4 3 2 JOHNSON, Paul 3-4 - 5-2 2 4 2 2 3 DIAZ, Sherman 6-8 - -2 2 2 4 4 2 3 3 8 5 BARRETT, Kimmani 7-4 - 4-5 4 2 6 8 23 2 NEAL, Sean - - 2-4 2 2 4 2 2 2 6 35 COHEN, Brad -5 - - 2 2 4 GRIMES, Brian 2-4 - 2-2 2 9 2 6 3 2 2 TEAM 2 3 Totals 37-59 3-6 25-4 3 35 48 22 2 24 2 6 8 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 8-29 62.% 2nd Half: 9-3 63.3% Game: 62.7% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: -2 5.% 2nd Half: 2-4 5.% Game: 5.% REBS F Throw % st Half: 8-9 88.9% 2nd Half: 7-32 53.% Game: 6.% 4, Visitors: Morgan State 2-7 2 TIMUS,Ronald 4-2 - 6-9 4 4 8 3 4 2 28 4 COLY,Boubacar 2-6 - 2-3 2 2 3 6 2 2 GREEN,Jerrel -4-3-4 2 4 5 7 26 5 MCLEAN,Joseph 6-2 -2 3-4 2 2 3 6 33 34 SMITH,Jamar -3 - -2 2 2 3 3 7 3 BRANCH,Demetrius. 2-5 2-5 - 2 6 2 2 HOLMES,Reggie 6-7 2- -2 2 3 4 5 8 2 BARNES,Rogers 2-3 - - 3 3 5 4 3 2 5 23 AUJLA,Karanvir 2-4 -2-2 3 4 33 BERKLEY,Timothy - - -2 2 2 5 42 HIGHTOWER,Emmanuel - - - 2 44 HEMSLEY,Gilroy. - - - 7 53 MOORE,Chris - - - 2 8 TEAM 3 3 Totals 27-68 5-24 7-26 2 2 32 29 76 4 4 4 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 8-28 28.6% 2nd Half: 9-4 47.5% Game: 39.7% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: -6 6.7% 2nd Half: 4-8 22.2% Game: 2.8% REBS F Throw % st Half: 7-2 58.3% 2nd Half: -4 7.4% Game: 65.4% 2, NEW BRITAIN, CT - The La Salle Explorers (5-2) saw six players set career-highs including junior Rodney Green's (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) game-high 25 points and senior Mike St. John (Northboro, MA/River School) assists enroute to an 86-73 victory over Central Connecticut State (3-8) on Saturday afternoon at Detrick Gym. After trading leads six times in the first half, freshman Yves Mekongo Mbala (Elizabeth, NJ/St. Patrick's) hit a jumper with 2:32 left to give the Explorers a 7-6 lead. They would not trail again despite CCSU cutting the lead to two points late in the second half. A force in the first half was another freshman Brian Grimes (Ft. Washington, PA/Germantown Ac., Brewster) who set a careerhigh before the first half ended with points in the opening frame, on his way to a game-total of 3 points. Six of those points came in 58 seconds when he scored on a pair of lay-ups, drew a foul and made the ensuing free throws at the 3:23 mark. Mekongo Mbala was the third Explorer in double digits with 3 points to go with his eight rebounds. For the first time this season leading scorer junior Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances) was held scoreless in the first half and finished with six points - four of which came from the free throw line in the closing minutes. The big story, however, was Green who scored the game's first six points and is now shooting.662 from the field on the season (43-65) and is leading the Explorers with an average of 6.6 points per game. St. John also contributed nine points in the win. Freshman Ruben Guillandeaux (Brooklyn, NY/St. Patrick's), who made his first career start and answered with a personal-best nine points. The Explorers held the Blue Devils to a season-low 35.3% shooting. PHILADELPHIA, PA - Five Explorers reached double-figures in scoring as the La Salle University (6-2) Explorers trounced Morgan State (2-7) by a score of 2-76 on Wednesday night at Tom Gola Arena. Freshman Kimmani Barrett (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic) led the way with a career-high 8 points and six rebounds. Fellow frosh Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) and Yves Mekongo Mbala (Elizabeth, NJ/St. Patrick's) combined for 26 more points for the Explorers who never trailed in the game and were last tied at 2-2 with 7.36 to play. Green stayed on pace with a 6 for 9 shooting night. He entered the game th in the nation with a 66.2% field goal percentage. At the 6.34 mark Xavier transfer Boubacar Coly converted a lay-up to draw the Bears within 8-4 but the Explorers ran off a 23-6 run to pull away and stay out in front. Also reaching double-figures in scoring were junior Sherman Diaz (Diego Martin, Trinidad & Tobago/Life Center - Burlington, NJ) who scored 4 points and sophomore Paul Johnson (Washington, DC/Gonzaga) who had points. All eleven Explorers, including sophomore walk-on Brad Cohen (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) scored in the game. Adding to his team-leading assist total was the surprising Mike St. John (Northboro, MA/River School) who scored seven points and pulled five rebounds but dealt five more assists to bring his season total to 25. Including Saturday's -assist performance at Central Connecticut State, St. John is now averaging 3. helpers a game. The Explorers topped the -point mark for the first time since a 7-6 four-overtime win at Central Connecticut State in 25. It was, however, their first time over the century mark in a regulation game since hanging a 9-93 win on Tennessee Tech in the Hilo Classic at Hawaii-Hilo on December 29, 993. The Explorers are now 4-4 in the months of November and December in the last two seasons. For the second straight game the Explorers held the opponent to under 45% shooting as the Bears went 27-68 (39.7%) from the field. The 26-point win was the Explorers' largest margin of victory since an 85-55 defeat of St. Francis (PA) on 2/28/5.
GAME SUMMARIES Sat. December 23 Villanova 64 EXPLORERS 5 VISITORS: Villanova 9-2, 2- Big 5 33 CUNNINGHAM, Dante 3-4 - - 2 3 4 7 2 27 34 SUMPTER, Curtis 4-9 -4 5-5 2 6 8 2 3 3 35 5 SHERIDAN, Will 3-5 - -2 2 2 4 2 7 3 3 REYNOLDS, Scottie 3-9 2-4 3-4 2 2 5 3 27 2 NARDI, Mike 4- -4 3-4 2 2 4 2 5 28 3 BENN, Bilal - - - 2 CLARK, Shane 3-9 -5 2-2 4 9 27 22 ANDERSON, Dwayne -2-2-2 2 3 4 32 DRUMMOND, Casiem - - - 42 TCHUISI, Frank - - -2 3 TEAM 2 3 Totals 2-49 5-9 7-2 8 29 5 64 3 9 3 6 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 4-25 56.% 2nd Half: 7-24 29.2% Game: 42.9% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 5-5.% 2nd Half: -9.% Game: 26.3% REBS F Throw % st Half: 4-6 66.7% 2nd Half: 3-5 86.7% Game: 8.% HOME TEAM: LASALLE 6-3, - Big 5 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 4-9 - -2 5 6 3 9 2 2 24 42 ST. JOHN, Mike 3-7 -3-3 4 2 7 2 29 GREEN, Rodney 4- - 4-6 4 2 6 2 2 4 2 35 HARRIS, Darnell 4-2-5 2-3 2 4 2 35 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben -5-2 - 4 4 4 3 6 2 25 JOHNSON, Paul -3 - - 2 3 DIAZ, Sherman 2-3 - - 3 3 3 4 2 4 5 BARRETT, Kimmani -6 - - 2 2 6 2 NEAL, Sean - - - 2 4 GRIMES, Brian - - - 2 3 2 9 TEAM 5 5 2 Totals 2-56 4-5 7-2 2 2 4 9 5 4 6 6 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: -24 45.8% 2nd Half: 9-32 28.% Game: 35.7% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: -5.% 2nd Half: 4-4.% Game: 26.7% REBS F Throw % st Half: 4-8 5.% 2nd Half: 3-4 75.% Game: 58.3% 2 Thu. December 28 Holy Cross 68 EXPLORERS 48 VISITORS: Holy Cross, 7-5 Simmons, Keith 5-6 4-4 - 5 6 4 4 2 3 24 2 Vander Baan, Alex 2-5 -2-2 4 4 3 6 2 3 29 Clifford, Tim 2-7 -2-2 3 4 5 2 2 24 Thomas, Torey 4-8 - 6-7 6 6 4 5 4 3 38 2 Cruze, Kyle 5-8 3-5 2-2 4 4 5 3 2 33 2 May, Adam - - - 2 2 5 Paterick, Zach -2-2-2 5 8 33 Cunningham, Colin -3-3 - 2 3 2 2 5 43 McCarthy, Greg - - - 2 2 7 53 Meister, Eric 2-3 - - 3 3 3 4 2 TEAM 2 3 Totals 23-43 -8-4 6 28 34 7 68 2 8 9 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: -22 45.5% 2nd Half: 3-2 6.9% Game: 53.5% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 7-63.6% 2nd Half: 4-7 57.% Game: 6.% REBS F Throw % st Half: 5-6 83.3% 2nd Half: 6-8 75.% Game: 78.6%, HOME TEAM: LASALLE 6-4 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves -2-2-6 2 2 3 2 23 42 ST. JOHN, Mike -4-3 -2 2 3 5 2 4 26 GREEN, Rodney 5- - -2 3 3 3 2 5 2 22 HARRIS, Darnell 3-2 3- - 9 3 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben -6-3 - 2 2 3 2 26 JOHNSON, Paul 2-5 - - 2 2 4 2 8 3 DIAZ, Sherman - - - 8 5 BARRETT, Kimmani - - 4-4 4 2 NEAL, Sean 2-2 - - 5 3 6 4 GRIMES, Brian 2-5 - 6-8 3 3 3 2 2 TEAM 3 4 Totals 5-47 5-9 3-22 8 6 24 7 48 3 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 6-22 27.3% 2nd Half: 9-25 36.% Game: 3.9% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 3-3.% 2nd Half: 2-9 22.2% Game: 26.3% REBS F Throw % st Half: 6-54.5% 2nd Half: 7-63.6% Game: 59.% 4 PHILADELPHIA - The Wildcats scored the first points of the game before Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances) hit a jumper with 5:37 left in the opening half to make the score -2. The Explorers would cut the 9-point deficit to (37-26) at the break despite turning the ball over 2 times in the first 2 minutes. The second half started with a 5-4 Explorer run that ended with Harris nailing the team's first three pointer of the game to tie the score at 4-4 with 4:55 to play. The Explorers had three opportunities to take their first lead of the game but missed all three shots before Shane Clark s lay-up reclaimed the lead for Villanova at 3:7. The Explorers would not be able to pull even again but had two chances to take the lead when Harris' three-pointer rimmed out with the score 48-46 with 8:36 to play. Just over two minutes later freshman Yves Mekongo Mbala (Elizabeth, NJ/St. Patrick's) launched a shot the met the same fate and the Explorers continued to trail. The Explorers would cut the lead to three points again (54-5) at the 3:7 point but the Wildcats would rattle off ten unanswered points to end the game. Harris and freshman Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) would share scoring honors for the Explorers with a dozen points each. For the ninth time in as many games the Explorers out rebounded their opponent - this time by a dominating 2- rebound margin at 4-29 but it was two offensive rebounds late that helped seal the win for the Cats. The game marked Villanova first appearance all-time at Tom Gola Arena which opened for play as the Explorers' home court on February 2, 998. PHILADELPHIA, PA - The Holy Cross Crusaders (7-5) shot 6% from the arc while the La Salle Explorers (6-4) went just 3-22 (59%) from the stripe and were out rebounded for the first time this season (34-24) in a 68-48 loss on Thursday night at Tom Gola Arena. The game marked the kick-off of the sixgame, three-night La Salle Invitational. Crusader junior Kyle Cruze came into the game averaging less than a point per game but hit a pair of three-pointers early on his way to a game-high 5 points. Cruze was one of three Holy Cross players in double digits as leading scorer Keith Simmons and point guard Torey Thomas each tallied 4 points. The Explorers, who never led in the game, gave up runs of 8- and 6-2 to open up the game's respective halves and trailed by as many as 24 points. The Crusaders were able to build that huge lead despite not having two of their three leading scorers in Simmons and Tim Clifford who both picked up their fourth fouls early in the second half. Freshmen Brian Grimes (Ft. Washington, PA/Germantown Academy) and Rodney Green (Philadelphia PA/Prep Charter) led the Explorers with ten points each. Green continues his run of scoring at least ten point in every game of his young career.
GAME SUMMARIES Fri. December 29 Delaware 58 EXPLORERS 56 HOME TEAM: Delaware 2-9 5 COURTNEY, Herb 3-8 -2 8-8 2 3 2 4 2 2 2 33 25 McMAHON, Sam 2-5 2-4 - 5 6 2 6 4 4 37 4 JOHNSON, Brian 4-7 -2 2-2 2 4 3 39 22 TAYLOR, Zaire 4-7 -2-3 4 4 9 3 4 3 23 JOHNSON, Darrell 4-8 3-4 -2 2 3 2 2 28 4 CANNON, Calvin -5-4 - 2 3 3 5 25 33 OLAWOYE,Henry -2 - - 2 3 9 TEAM Totals 9-42 8-8 2-4 7 5 22 4 58 4 6 3 9 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: -2 55.% 2nd Half: 8-22 36.4% Game: 45.2% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 6-54.5% 2nd Half: 2-7 28.6% Game: 44.4% REBS F Throw % st Half: 9-9.% 2nd Half: 3-4 75.% Game: 85.7%, Visitors: La Salle 6-5 JOHNSON, Paul -3 - - 2 9 42 ST. JOHN, Mike 2-5 - - 2 3 5 4 3 2 2 5 BARRETT, Kimmani -3 - - 2 3 2 7 HARRIS, Darnell 4-2 4-8 2-3 2 4 33 2 NEAL, Sean -2 - - 2 2 6 3 DIAZ, Sherman 3-4 - - 2 7 2 9 GREEN, Rodne 2-5 - - 2 4 6 2 4 3 6 28 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 3-5 - 2-2 3 2 5 2 8 3 3 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben 2-5 -2-4 4 2 5 2 27 4 GRIMES, Brian 3-6 - 2-3 2 8 2 TEAM 3 4 Totals 22-5 6-4 6-9 3 7 3 6 56 2 7 3 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: -27 37.% 2nd Half: 2-23 52.2% Game: 44.% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: -6 6.7% 2nd Half: 5-8 62.5% Game: 42.9% REBS F Throw % st Half: 4-6 66.7% 2nd Half: 2-3 66.7% Game: 66.7% 2 Sat. December 3 Niagara 88 EXPLORERS 82 HOME TEAM: LASALLE 6-6 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 7-3 2-5 7-8 3 4 7 5 23 2 3 42 ST. JOHN, Mike 4-8 2-5 - 6 7 3 4 2 32 GREEN, Rodney 2-8 - -2 3 5 8 2 4 2 HARRIS, Darnell 6-7 2-9 -2 2 2 2 5 5 3 2 36 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben 9-9 - - 4 9 4 3 JOHNSON, Paul - - -4 2 2 9 3 DIAZ, Sherman -2-4-4 2 4 2 2 5 BARRETT, Kimmani 2-3 - - 2 5 8 2 NEAL, Sean - - - 3 4 GRIMES, Brian - - - 8 TEAM 3 2 5 Totals 3-62 7-22 3-2 2 3 23 82 6 2 8 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 3-29 44.8% 2nd Half: 8-33 54.5% Game: 5.% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 2-2.% 2nd Half: 5-2 4.7% Game: 3.8% REBS F Throw % st Half: 8-3 6.5% 2nd Half: 5-8 62.5% Game: 6.9% 5 Visitors: Niagara 6-7 3 DUFFEY, J.R 3- -5-3 3 3 3 8 2 37 33 BROWN, Cliff 7-5 2-5 4-4 6 5 2 2 2 37 MILES, Lorenzo 5-3 2-3 -2 3 4 22 4 3 2 35 24 FISHER, Charron 8-7 -4-6 3 9 4 27 3 33 34 BROOKS, Rydell -5 - - 3 4 2 2 8 2 HODGE, Stanley 2-4 -2 4-4 4 5 2 9 7 2 2 33 5 PATTERSON,Andrew - - - 2 2 5 EGEMONYE, Benson - - - 3 5 TEAM 2 4 6 Totals 26-65 7-9 29-33 2 23 44 9 88 4 3 6 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 6-37 43.2% 2nd Half: -28 35.7% Game: 4.% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 5-3 38.5% 2nd Half: 2-6 33.3% Game: 36.8% REBS F Throw % st Half: 6-7 85.7% 2nd Half: 23-26 88.5% Game: 87.9% 2 PHILADELPHIA, PA - For the third consecutive game the La Salle University Explorers (6-5) trailed by 5 or more points in the first half and could not battle back in a 58-56 second-round loss to the University of Delaware (2-9) on Friday at Tom Gola Arena in the La Salle Invitational. Delaware, who led by as many as 7 in the first half, never trailed in the game and withstood several second half Explorer runs to in for the second straight night. They had come into the La Salle Invitational before dealing Niagara a surprising 7-53 defeat on the opening night. The Explorers clawed back into the game and had a legitimate chance to tie or go ahead down the stretch when junior Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances Academy) hit a high-arcing three-pointer to bring his team within a point at 55-54 with 49 seconds to play to play. Harris was just 3- from the arc in the opening game of the tourney and had struggled over the past week of the season before hitting the jumper which finished him at 4 points on 4-2 shooting (4-8 from three). The Explorers immediately fouled Brian Johnson who hit a pair of free throws to extend the lead to three points with just 9 seconds left. Without a clean look for three, Explorer junior Ruben Guillandeaux (Brooklyn, NY/St. Patrick's) made a running lay-up to get the lead back to one point at 57-56 with ten seconds remaining. The ensuing fouled sent Darrell Johnson to the stripe where he made one of two shots - missing the second with nine seconds left. Guillandeaux pulled the trigger on the final shot of the game with a running that banked too hard off the glass to preserve the win for the Blue Hens. The Hens continued their blistering shooting with an -2 first half performance including 6- from the arc. They finished shooting 45.2 % from the field led by Herb Courtney's 4 points. Eight of Courtney's points came from the free-throw line in the first half where he went 8-8. Johnson also contributed a dozen points on 3-4 three-point shooting. The Explorers have not led in a game since routing Morgan State 2-76 on December 2th. PHIILADELPHIA, PA - The La Salle Invitational came to a close with the host Explorers (6-6) going winless after an 88-82 loss to the Niagara Purple Eagles (6-7) on Saturday night at Tom Gola Arena. Offensive rebounds (2) and free throw shooting were the primary factors in the Niagara win. The Purple Eagles missed just four of their 33 free throw attempts while the Explorers' free throw percentage continues to plummet after a 3-2 shooting night. Philadelphia product Charron Fisher (Roman Catholic) was - from the line with a game-high 27 points. The Explorers, who trailed by as many as 3 points in the second half, couldn't seem to get the Niagara lead under five points most of the night and led just once at 5-4 after a Mike St. John (Northboro, MA/River School) three-pointer with 7: left in the first half. That lead, which lasted only 8 second before J.R. Duffey's three-pointer was the team's first since it routed Morgan State on December 2th. For the second straight night the Explorer made a late run in the closing minutes keyed by three steals off of full court pressure and the second three-pointer of the night from freshman Yves Mekongo Mbala (Elizabeth, NJ/St. Patrick) that cut the Purple Eagle lead to five at 8-75 with just 59 seconds remaining. Fisher, Duffey and Lorenzo Miles went 8- from the stripe in the final minute to seal the deal. Niagara got an offensive rebound or retained possession on all four fo their missed free throws. Mekongo Mbala led the Explorers with a career-high 23 points with seven rebounds while high school teammate and fellow freshman Ruben Guillandeaux (Brooklyn, NY/St. Patrick) also set a career mark with 9 points. The Eagles also became just the second team to outrebound the Explorers while turning in 25 points off of offensive second-chances.
GAME SUMMARIES Wed. January 3 Rhode Island 69 EXPLORERS 66 Ryan Center - E. Kingston, RI VISITORS: La Salle 6-7, - A- 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 3-8 -2 3-5 3 5 8 3 9 33 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben 5-3 2-2 -2 2 2 3 2 5 36 42 ST. JOHN, Mike 3-5 - - 3 4 4 6 2 2 29 GREEN, Rodney 4- - 2-3 2 3 4 2 4 HARRIS, Darnell 4-2-4-2 3 2 2 2 3 36 JOHNSON, Paul - - - 2 3 2 3 3 DIAZ, Sherman -4-3 - 3 2 8 5 BARRETT, Kimmani 5-6 - 4-7 2 2 4 3 5 26 4 GRIMES, Brian - - - 5 TEAM 5 5 Totals 25-59 6-4 -7 8 4 32 2 66 9 5 9 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 8-29 27.6% 2nd Half: 7-3 56.7% Game: 42.4% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: -6 6.7% 2nd Half: 5-8 62.5% Game: 42.9% REBS F Throw % st Half: 4-7 57.% 2nd Half: 6-6.% Game: 58.8% 2, HOME TEAM: Rhode Island 8-7, - A- 25 DANIELS, Will -8-4 5-5 2 4 6 3 26 3 3 35 33 SEAWRIGHT, Kahiem 3-3 - 3-7 3 6 9 3 9 2 5 2 35 34 HARRIS, Darrell 3-4 - -2 2 6 8 4 7 4 2 27 4 BITEE, Parfait 2-8 -3 4-4 8 2 4 32 2 BARON, Jimmy 3-7 3-6 3-4 2 2 2 28 MBANG, Joe -2-2 - 2 2 3 9 2 GRIER, Terence - - - 4 5 ULMER, Lamonte -3 - -2 3 2 4 22 COTHRAN, Keith 2-2 - - 4 6 TEAM 2 Totals 24-47 5-6 6-24 2 3 5 69 3 8 2 7 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 5-25 6.% 2nd Half: 9-22 4.9% Game: 5.% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 4-4.% 2nd Half: -6 6.7% Game: 3.3% REBS F Throw % st Half: 5-8 62.5% 2nd Half: -6 68.8% Game: 66.7% 4,2 KINGSTON, RI The La Salle University Explorers (6-7,-) were unable to rebound from another huge first-half deficit as freshman Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) had a three-pointer go in and fall out at the buzzer to give Rhode Island (8-7, -) a 69-66 win in the Atlantic opener for both teams on Wednesday night at the Ryan Center. For the second game, the Explorers led for just seconds when they opened with a lay-up by Green, but Rhode Island scored the next seven points and built a 22-point first-half lead fueled largely by Jimmy Baron s 2 points in the first six and a half minutes. The Explorers were able to cut the lead to 8 at the break when freshman Kimmani Barrett (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic) hit a three-pointer at the buzzer but were hounded all night by missed free throws, lay-ups and Ram rebounds off of their own missed free throws. After shooting just 27.6% in the first half the Explorers connected on 7 of 3 second half shots to finish at 42.4% while also holding Baron scoreless after his torrid start. Will Daniels scored of the Rams final points to keep the Rams in front. The Explorers tied the game at 66-66 when Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances) hit a three-pointer with :55 to play. They followed the score with a defensive stop but then turned the ball over and allowed Daniels to reclaim the lead with 28 seconds left. The most critical missed lay-up of the night came with three seconds remaining after Ruben Guillandeaux (Brooklyn, NY/St. Patrick s) rebounded his own miss but could not covert the follow-up. Green got the ensuing rebound but could not hold the possession. Yves Mekongo Mbala (Elizabeth, NJ/St. Patrick s) fouled Kahiem Seawright who made the second of two free throws to build a 69-66 lead and set up the final play in which Green took a full-court pass from Mike St. John (Northboro,MA/River School) dribbled once and launched the potential equalizer which looked like it would fall but rattled out. The Explorers continue Atlantic play on Saturday when they host Massachusetts at 4: PM. The game will be televised check local listings for the carrying sports network. Sat. January 6 UMass 79 EXPLORERS 7 VISITORS: UMass -4, - A- 3 Lasme, Stephane 7-9 - 3-8 5 8 3 4 7 3 9 34 22 Brower, Etienne -4-2 - 3 3 6 7 Freeman, Rashaun 9-4 - -2 9 2 5 8 33 4 Lowe, Chris 4-6 -2 5-6 2 4 6 2 3 34 34 Life, James 4-4 3-5-6 3 6 2 2 3 32 2 Thomas, Brandon -4-3 - 3 Forbes, Gary 4-7 - 4-5 4 4 4 2 2 2 22 5 Harris, Ricky -2-2 - 7 2 Milligan, Dante - - - 2 3 Bonner, Luke -2 - - 3 2 8 TEAM 2 Totals 29-62 4-2 7-27 8 9 37 23 79 4 8 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 4-33 42.4% 2nd Half: 5-29 5.7% Game: 46.8% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: -2 8.3% 2nd Half: 3-9 33.3% Game: 9.% REBS F Throw % st Half: 4-9 44.4% 2nd Half: 3-8 72.2% Game: 63.% 3 HOME TEAM: LASALLE 6-8, -2 A- 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 3-8 -2 2-4 3 4 5 8 25 42 ST. JOHN, Mike 2-7 -3 2-2 4 4 8 5 6 3 4 2 26 GREEN, Rodney 4- - 4-6 3 4 7 3 2 2 3 2 32 HARRIS, Darnell 6-5-9 2-3 2 3 4 9 2 37 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben 2-7 - - 4 3 2 2 JOHNSON, Paul - - - 3 3 DIAZ, Sherman - - - 7 5 BARRETT, Kimmani 4-4 - 3-4 3 4 3 3 23 4 GRIMES, Brian 4-8 - 3-5 2 4 6 2 26 TEAM 3 4 Totals 25-56 5-7 6-24 7 9 36 24 7 2 5 2 5 2 PHILADELPHIA, PA - In a reversal of their recent form the La Salle University Explorers (6-8, -2) built a 4-point first half lead but were overcome by the Massachusetts Minutemen (- 4, -) in a 79-7 finish on Saturday afternoon at Tom Gola Arena. Junior Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances) went four-for-four from beyond-the-arc in the first half to help the Explorers build a 28-4 lead with 7:53 left. Harris was then held scoreless until he turned a baseline jumper into a threepoint play with 2.53 remaining in the game. He finished with 9 points in the game. The Minutemen went on a 9-9 run to close to within four points at 37-33 at halftime. Rashaun Freeman hit a lay-up with 7: left in the game to make the score 43-4 and put the Minutemen in front for good. Freeman and senior frontcourt teammate Stephane Lasme each registered a double-double and combined for 35 points, 24 rebounds and ten blocked shots. The duo also altered numerous other Explorers shots during the second-half UMass run. Five UMass players scored ten or more points. The Explorers placed four scorers, including Harris, in double figures. Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) notched 2 points while fellow first-year contributors Brian Grimes (Ft. Washington, PA/Germantown Academy) and Kimmani Barrett (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic) scored apiece. The five Explorer freshmen accounted for 65% (46) of the Explorers' 7 points and played 27 of the 2 games minutes (64%). The Explorers kept the game close in the final minutes but UMass, who entered the game shooting 65% from the free throw line sealed the victory by going for 2 on the stripe in the final two minutes and 22 seconds. TOTAL FG% st Half: 4-24 58.3% 2nd Half: -32 34.4% Game: 44.6% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 4-8 5.% 2nd Half: -9.% Game: 29.4% REBS F Throw % st Half: 5-6 83.3% 2nd Half: -8 6.% Game: 66.7% 3,3
GAME SUMMARIES Wed. January Duquesne 63 EXPLORERS 79 AJ Palumbo Center - Pittsburgh, PA HOME TEAM: Duquesne 5-9, -2 A 3 GROTE, Scott 4- -4 5-6 4 2 6 5 4 3 27 2 ACHARA, Kieron 6- - 3-4 4 5 9 4 5 2 4 2 29 JACKSON, Aaron 2- -5 2-4 4 5 4 6 4 2 2 39 3 JACKSON, Reggie -9-6 - 2 3 3 3 2 FAYNE, Phillip -3 - - 3 2 2 22 TUCKER, Gary -5 - - 2 2 23 MITCHELL, Robert 4-2 -2 5-6 2 2 2 4 23 3 WOOD, Stephen 3-6 -4-2 7 4 5 THIERO, Almamy - - - 3 7 TEAM 5 5 Totals 22-68 3-24 6-2 22 32 2 63 5 9 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: -32 3.3% 2nd Half: 2-36 33.3% Game: 32.4% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: -.% 2nd Half: 3-4 2.4% Game: 2.5% REBS F Throw % st Half: 9-9 % 2nd Half: 7-2 58.3% Game: 76.2% Visitors: La Salle 7-8, -2 A JOHNSON, Paul 2-4 - - 2 4 2 3 DIAZ, Sherman 4-7 - - 8 2 3 2 2 5 BARRETT, Kimmani 2-3 - 3-4 2 3 5 7 2 22 GREEN, Rodney 9-4 - - 5 3 8 4 9 24 HARRIS, Darnell 5-9 3-5 - 3 3 3 3 2 26 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 2-4 - -3 2 4 6 2 NEAL, Sean - - - 2 2 2 9 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben 5-8 2-3 5-6 2 3 2 7 2 34 4 GRIMES, Brian - - - 3 3 2 2 42 ST. JOHN, Mike - - 3-4 3 8 2 5 3 5 26 TEAM 3 3 Totals 3-5 5-9 2-8 3 27 4 8 79 4 7 4 4 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 7-29 58.6% 2nd Half: 4-22 63.6% Game: 6.8% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: -4 25.% 2nd Half: 4-5 8.% Game: 55.6% REBS F Throw % st Half: 5-7 7.4% 2nd Half: 7-63.6% Game: 66.7% 3, Sat. January 3 Dayton 84 EXPLORERS 82 U of Dayton Arena - Dayton, OH HOME TEAM: Dayton Flyers 2-4, 2- A SCOTT, Monty 3-5 2-3 -2 2 3 3 9 4 4 2 27 5 LITTLE, Charles 3-5 - - 2 5 6 8 4 HUELSMAN, Kurt 2-3 - 2-4 2 5 7 6 2 23 2 ROBERTS, Brian. 9-4 5-8 -2 2 4 34 28 32 JOHNSON, Marcus -8-4 -2 2 2 4 3 4 4 2 3 3 SANDOVAL, Andres 2-4 -3 4-4 2 9 3 3 23 4 WARREN, London - - - 2 2 2 2 PLUMMER, Norman. 2-4 - 2-2 3 5 8 5 6 2 2 2 2 33 BINNIE, Jimmy 4-7 2-4 - 2 2 9 TEAM Totals 26-5 -22 2-27 9 3 24 84 8 5 7 5 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 3-29 44.8% 2nd Half: 3-2 6.9% Game: 52.% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 6-3 46.2% 2nd Half: 5-9 55.6% Game: 5.% REBS F Throw % st Half: 5-6 83.3% 2nd Half: 6-2 76.2% Game: 77.8% 2, Visitors: La Salle 7-9, -3 A JOHNSON, Paul - - 3-3 2 3 4 5 8 3 DIAZ, Sherman - - - 3 5 BARRETT, Kimmani 3-3 - 5-5 2 2 3 9 GREEN, Rodney 7-3 - 3-6 2 3 5 3 7 34 HARRIS, Darnell 6-5 4-9 6-7 3 3 22 3 4 34 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 4- -3 3-4 3 4 2 2 3 32 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben -4-2 2-2 2 2 2 5 3 3 24 4 GRIMES, Brian -4-3-4 2 2 2 5 2 42 ST. JOHN, Mike 2-3 - - 2 2 4 4 5 4 24 TEAM 2 Totals 25-53 7-5 25-3 6 27 2 82 6 3 5 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: -27 4.7% 2nd Half: 4-26 53.8% Game: 47.2% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 5-9 55.6% 2nd Half: 2-6 33.3% Game: 46.7% REBS F Throw % st Half: 7-7 % 2nd Half: 8-24 75.% Game: 8.6% 3, PITTSBURGH, PA -- Despite being saddled with foul trouble and shut out in the first half, junior Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances) scored 3 points while freshman Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) came two rebounds shy of a double-double in La Salle's (7-8,-2) 79-63 defeat of Duquesne (5-9, -2) on Wednesday night at the A.J. Palumbo Center. Harris, who picked up to early fouls trying to draw charges, left the game with 4.5 to play in the opening frame and would stay on the bench until the start of the second half. Upon returning to action, Harris dropped the first of his three three-pointers just 85 seconds into the second half and finished with 3 points. He know has 893 career points. Green scored eight of the Explorers' first 4 points including an explosive double-pump, baseline dunk to put his team up 4- with 4. left in the first half. He would finish with a game-high 9 points and, were it not for foul trouble of his own, would likely have registered his first career and the Explorers' first season double-double. He finished with eight rebounds while playing only nine minutes in the second half. The Explorers trailed only once in the game when Kieran Achara made one of Duquesne's 6 free throws to complete a three-point play to make the score 9-8 with 5.5 left in the first half. The Explorers quickly recovered and built as much as a 9-point lead in the second half. Duquesne used full-court, trapping pressure to counter and cut the Explorer lead to eight points (62-54) when Robert Mitchell slammed home a missed lay-up by teammate Aaron Jackson with 4:54 left in the game. Just 4 seconds later Harris launched a high-arcing, baseline three-pointer that found the net and reclaimed momentum for the Explorers who were able to cruise to their seventh victory of the season and their frst win in A- play. Mike St. John (Northboro, MA/River School) had a game-high rebounds and added to his team-leading assists with three more helpers in the game. It was La Salle's third straight win over Duquesne and snapped a sixgame La Salle skid. DAYTON, OH - Junior Darnell Harris (Baltimore MD/St. Frances) hit his first four three-pointers and finished with a team-high 22 points but it was his missed free throw with.4 seconds to play that helped the Dayton Flyers (2-4, 2- A-) survive a gutsy La Salle University (7-9, -3 A-) challenge on Saturday night at the University of Dayton Arena. The Explorers built an eight-point lead in the first half behind Harris and his teammates' shooting but the Flyers' hit six of their own three-pointers to head into the half up 37-34. The Explorers led once in the second half when Harris hit a pair of free throws with 8:37 left to make the score 39-37 but conceded that led 3 seconds later and played catch-up the rest of the way. A pivotal point in the second half came with the Explorers trailing 63-57 with 9:3 to play when the Flyers' Andres Sandoval stole and entry pass and break out across mid-court where La Salle freshman Ruben Guillandeaux (Brooklyn, NY/St. Patrick's) reached out and committed and intentional foul to put Sandoval on line where he made two shots to give the Flyers' their largest lead of the night. The Explorers continued to battle and stayed within striking distance until the exciting final half-minute which started with Dayton's Brian Roberts' only missed free-throw in 2 attempts. On the miss, with the Explorers trailing 8-76, with 26 seconds to play, freshman Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) made a driving lay-up to cut the lead to four. The Explorers immediately fouled sending Marcus Johnson to the line. Johnson made one of two to make the score 82-78 with 8 seconds left in the game. On the ensuing Explorer possession Green made another free throw and was fouled by Norman Plummer with ten seconds to go. Green made the foul shot and the Explorers trailed 82-8. Roberts was fouled again and returned to the line where he added his final two points in a career-high 34- point effort to make the score 84-8. With five seconds remaining Green was fouled again but this time missed the front end and intentionally missed the second shot. The Flyers lost the ball out of bounds with three seconds left setting up a final play for the Explorers. Harris received the in bounds in the corner and was fouled on his three-point attempt with.4 second s to go. Harris missed the first shot, made the second and intentionally missed the third. An Explorer rebound was not possible, however, as Green was called for entering the three-point arc before the shot left Harris' hands - ending the Explorer effort and giving the Flyers their eleventh straight home victory.
GAME SUMMARIES Tue. January 6 New Jersey Institute of Tech 59 EXPLORERS 78 VISITORS: NJIT 3-5 24 PETERS, Kraig 6-4 4-8 2-2 7 8 4 8 3 3 37 35 MILOSEVIC, Nesho 3-6 - - 4 6 6 8 STONKUS, Dan 2-3 - 5-6 2 3 4 9 3 BARKER, CLAYTON 7-6 2-8 - 4 5 2 6 3 2 35 ENGEL, Andrew -3 - - 2 2 2 6 5 MAGNUS, Courcy -3-2 - 3 2 2 5 MANNING, Michael -2-2 -2 5 23 STONE, Alex - - - 5 33 JOHNSON, Brett -2 - -2 2 3 2 42 LEWIS, Dan - - - 44 MILBOURNE SWAN, Marc -3-2-3 4 4 2 26 TEAM 2 2 Totals 2-53 6-23 -5 8 7 25 24 59 7 7 9 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: -23 47.8% 2nd Half: -3 33.3% Game: 39.6% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 5-45.5% 2nd Half: -2 8.3% Game: 26.% REBS F Throw % st Half: 4-6 66.7% 2nd Half: 7-9 77.8% Game: 73.3% HOME TEAM: La Salle 8-9, -3 A- 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 4-4 - 2-2 2 6 8 4 2 27 42 ST. JOHN, Mike -5-3 3-6 3 4 3 6 26 GREEN, Rodney 4-7 - -2 3 5 8 8 5 4 5 26 HARRIS, Darnell 3-9 2-6 - 2 8 2 27 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben 5-2-4-2 3 2 4 2 28 JOHNSON, Paul 2-4 - 4-6 2 6 8 2 8 3 2 3 DIAZ, Sherman - - - 5 BARRETT, Kimmani 3-5 - 2-3 4 5 3 8 6 2 NEAL, Sean -3 - - 2 2 2 35 COHEN, Brad -5 - - 3 4 GRIMES, Brian - - -2 3 4 7 TEAM 3 2 5 Totals 25-54 5-5 23-33 7 27 44 7 78 2 8 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 5-29 5.7% 2nd Half: -25 4.% Game: 46.3% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 3-5 6.% 2nd Half: 2-2.% Game: 33.3% REBS F Throw % st Half: -4 78.6% 2nd Half: 2-9 63.2% Game: 69.7% 5 Thu. January 8 Penn 93 EXPLORERS 92 VISITORS: Penn -6 3 DANLEY, Steve - - 2-2 3 4 5 2 2 3 23 24 ZOLLER, Mark 2-9 -4 4-4 3 7 2 28 2 4 32 2 JAABER, Ibrahim -6 3-4 2-5 3 4 27 9 3 2 4 5 EGEE, Kevin 2-5 -2-2 5 2 3 2 GRANDIERI, Brian 8-7 - -3 2 3 3 8 2 33 5 SMITH, Darren 3-4 2-2 - 8 8 3 SCHREIBER, Andreas - - - 8 4 KACH, Michael - - - 9 2 MCMAHON, Tommy - - -2 2 8 4 REILLY, Justin - - 2-2 2 2 2 2 4 42 VOTEL, Brennan - - - 2 2 3 TEAM... 3 2 5 Totals 37-64 7-4 2-8 2 3 8 93 2 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 7-3 56.7% 2nd Half: 2-34 58.8% Game: 57.8% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 2-6 33.3% 2nd Half: 5-8 62.5% Game: 5.% REBS F Throw % st Half: 5-6 83.3% 2nd Half: 7-2 58.3% Game: 66.7% HOME TEAM: LASALLE 8-, -3 A 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves -3-3-3 4 5 5 5 2 2 9 42 ST. JOHN, Mike -4 - -2 8 9 3 7 6 35 GREEN, Rodney 9-7 - 4-7 2 2 22 2 33 HARRIS, Darnell 2-2 8-4 - 2 2 4 32 2 2 38 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben - - 3-3 2 5 2 2 JOHNSON, Paul 7-2-4-3 3 3 6 7 6 24 3 DIAZ, Sherman - - - 2 6 5 BARRETT, Kimmani 3-5 - 2-2 2 2 8 2 7 4 GRIMES, Brian -2 - - 8 TEAM. 5 4 9 Totals 34-64 -2 4-2 4 22 36 5 92 2 6 4 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 7-3 54.8% 2nd Half: 7-33 5.5% Game: 53.% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 7-9 77.8% 2nd Half: 3-27.3% Game: 5.% REBS F Throw % st Half: 8-2 66.7% 2nd Half: 6-8 75.% Game: 7.% PHILADELPHIA, PA - The La Salle Explorers (8-9, -3) came back with a vengeance tonight, shooting their way to a 9 point victory over visiting New Jersey Institute of Technology (3-5). Freshman Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) led the way yet again with 8 points and eight rebounds, along with Ruben Guillandeaux's (Brooklyn, NY/St. Patrick's) own 2 points. Jersey Tech started off the show with a jumper from junior Kraig Peters to go up 2-. That would be the Highlanders only lead of the night, however, as two stolen possessions led to 4 unanswered points, giving La Salle the gate to take over. While only scoring eight points in the game, Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances) made his count, pushing the Explorer lead to 2 points with each of his three-pointers. The Highlanders tried to get a hold of the game several times in the second half, led by Peters' 8 points and senior Clayton Barker's 6. With :4 left in the game, and the score 58-5 the Explorers went on a 6-4 run that finished with a devastating rebound dunk from Yves Mekongo Mbala (Elizabeth, NJ/St. Patrick's). Mekongo Mbala finished with perfect shooting, going 4-4 from the floor and 2-2 from the stripe. His points and eight rebounds made him just one of three Explorers who closed in on a double-double, each of them just two rebounds shy before running out of time. Sophomore walk-on Brad Cohen (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) was able to get five shots up in just over a minute before capping scoring with a three-point play on a bucket and free throw with. seconds left to close out the 78-59 victory. PHILADELPHIA, PA - Explorer junior guard Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances) hit six first-half three pointers and finished with a career-high 32 points but Pennsylvania's (-6, - Big 5) seniors helped the Quakers edge out a 93-92 victory over the La Salle Explorers (8-, - Big 5) on Thursday night at Tom Gola Arena. The Explorers built a 3-point first half lead behind Harris' hot shooting and sophomore Paul Johnson (Washington, DC/Gonzaga) who also set a career-high with 7 points. The Quakers were able to cut the lead to eight at the half, 49-4, but La Salle opened another lead of eleven points in the second frame when freshman Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) hit a lay-up but missed the ensuing free throw to make the score 58-47 with 6:4 remaining. Still the Quakers, behind seniors Ibby Jaaber and Mark Zoller stayed closer and eventually cashed in on an Explorer lull to take the 68-67 lead on Jaaber's three-pointer with :3 remaining. He would finish with a team-high 27 points. The bucket gave Penn its first lead since they held a 5-4 advantage with 2:54 to go in the first half. From there the teams would swap the lead, seemingly on each possession, 4 more times in the half. Penn finally took the advantage when Brian Grandieri made a short jumper and was fouled with :4 to play to give Penn 88-87 edge. His free throw barely drew iron and landed in teammate Zoller's hands who was promptly fouled and made both free throws. The Explorers attempted to answer by dumping the ball into freshman Kimmani Barrett (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic) who had position four feet from the basket but choose to throw it errantly to the perimeter where Penn retrieved the ball and then converted on a Jaaber jumper with the shot clock about to expire to put the Quakers in control with a five-point lead and only 4 seconds to play. Green hit a running lay-up to finish with 22 points, the Explorers fouled and Grandieri made one of two free throws to secure the win as Johnson nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to close out scoring at 93-92.
Sun. January 2 St. Bonaventure 87 EXPLORERS 73 Reilly Center- Olean, NY GAME SUMMARIES HOME TEAM: St. Bonaventure 5-3, 2-3 A 5 LEE, Michael 7-4 -2 5-5 5 5 4 9 2 35 25 HAWKINS, A.J 5-9 - 3-6 4 4 2 4 4 2 34 2 WILLIAMS, Paul 8-9 - 4-4 3 7 2 2 5 2 39 3 DIGGS, Terron. -3-2 - 3 4 8 RELPH, Tyler 3-3-9 2-2 2 2 3 2 2 34 FERETI, Zarryon 6-2-5-2 4 27 4 CALVIN, Jermaine - - - 3 3 7 24 MORRIS, Jourdan -4 - -2 3 6 TEAM 3 2 5 Totals 32-6 8-2 5-2 6 23 29 3 87 2 9 2 7 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 4-35 4.% 2nd Half: 8-26 69.2% Game: 52.5% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 4-4 28.6% 2nd Half: 4-7 57.% Game: 38.% REBS F Throw % st Half: 3-4 75.% 2nd Half: 2-6 75.% Game: 75.% 3 Visitors: La Salle 8-, -4 A 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 4-5 -3-2 6 5 3 9 3 33 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben 2-6 -2-3 3 4 2 9 42 ST. JOHN, Mike 3-7 -3-6 7 3 6 2 2 2 32 GREEN, Rodney 2-5 - - 4 4 8 3 4 5 24 HARRIS, Darnell 9-5 4-8 -2 4 23 2 38 JOHNSON, Paul 5-7 - -2 3 2 24 3 DIAZ, Sherman -2 - - 2 7 5 BARRETT, Kimmani 3-5 - 4-4 2 2 2 5 4 GRIMES, Brian 3-5 - - 6 8 TEAM 4 5 Totals 3-67 4-7 7-5 25 4 6 73 6 6 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 7-33 5.5% 2nd Half: 4-34 4.2% Game: 46.3% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 3-7 42.9% 2nd Half: -.% Game: 23.5% REBS F Throw % st Half: 4-5 8.% 2nd Half: 3-5 6.% Game: 7.% Wed. January 24 Richmond 56 EXPLORERS 79 HOME TEAM: La Salle 9-, 2-4 A FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 2-6 - 3-4 4 5 9 7 3 29 42 ST. JOHN, Mike -2 - -6 2 6 8 3 4 3 26 GREEN, Rodney 5-6 - 5-6 7 7 3 5 3 25 HARRIS, Darnell 5-2-5 6-6 3 4 7 3 8 2 26 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben 2-8 -2 5-5 2 2 27 JOHNSON, Paul - - - 5 3 DIAZ, Sherman 3-4 2-3 4-4 2 3 5 2 2 9 5 BARRETT, Kimmani -2-9- 3 3 6 9 3 4 22 2 NEAL, Sean - - -2 2 6 35 COHEN, Brad -2 - - 3 4 GRIMES, Brian -5-3-4 3 4 3 3 4 TEAM 3 2 5 Totals 8-47 6-37-47 9 35 54 7 79 3 5 4 3 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 7-24 29.2% 2nd Half: -23 47.8% Game: 38.3% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 2-6 33.3% 2nd Half: 4-5 8.% Game: 54.5% REBS F Throw % st Half: 9-2 75.% 2nd Half: 28-35 8.% Game: 78.7% 4 Visitors: Richmond 5-4, -5 A FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN SYLLA, Oumar -5 - -2 3 3 2 2 3 THOMAS, Peter 2-4 - 2-2 4 6 28 4 GERIOT, Dan 4- -2 4-5 2 5 2 3 3 28 2 GONZALVEZ, David 3-2 -3 4-6 3 4 7 3 3 36 44 BUTLER, Ryan 4-3-8-5 5 4 3 29 3 McGONIGAL, Mark - - - 2 3 3 4 GIDDINGS, Jarhon -3-2 - 3 4 3 2 8 5 MORRIS, Brian -6-3 - 3 2 3 24 35 HOVDE, Kevin 3-4 2-2 - 3 8 5 54 CRANK, Drew -2 - -2 3 2 8 TEAM 2 Totals 9-58 7-2 -7 9 6 25 32 56 3 8 4 8 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 6-25 24.% 2nd Half: 3-33 39.4% Game: 32.8% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 3-27.3% 2nd Half: 4-4.% Game: 33.3% REBS F Throw % st Half: 2-5 4.% 2nd Half: 9-2 75.% Game: 64.7% OLEAN, NY - In a game of runs the La Salle University Explorers (8-, -4) dropped an 87-73 decision to St. Bonaventure (5-3, 2-3) on Sunday afternoon at the Reilly Center. The Bonnies capitalized on sluggish Explorer play at the on set to build a 3-9 lead with 7:33 left in the first half. They maintained a lead until the four-minute media timeout where the score stood at 35-28 with 3.29 remaining in the half. La Salle then commenced a 2- run that bridged the halves and set the Explorers up with an -point lead, 5-39, with 5.5 left in the game. The Bonnies were not finished, however, as Michael Lee would score nine of his team's 3 points while the Bonnies shot 69% from the field to reclaim the lead. Upon taking the 53-52 lead on a pair of free throws by Paul Williams, the Bonnies would never trail again and were able to seal the 4-point win. Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances) scored a gamehigh 23-points. The junior is now 22 points away from becoming the 45th Explorer to score or more points in his career with a three-season total of 978. The loss came in the Explorers' fourth road game in their first five Atlantic contests. PHILADELPHIA, PA - After a sluggish start on both sides of the ball led to a 25-7 half, the La Salle University Explorers (9-, 2-4) picked up their game, scoring 54 points in the second half to close out the win over the University of Richmond Spiders (5-4, -5). Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances) led the way in scoring for the 2th time this year, finishing with 8 points. The first half spun out with almost no one finding the basket, as both teams shot under 3% from the floor. Richmond's only lead of the night was the first minute and half of the game, before freshman Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) tied it at 2-2 with a pair of free throws. He finished with 5 points and seven rebounds, all defensive. La Salle would control the game for the rest of the night after Green's initial foul shots. The closest Richmond came was : into the second half when they cut La Salle's lead to six points. After that it was only a matter of the Explorers staying at least eight points ahead for the rest of the game. While both teams finished shooting under 4% from the floor, La Salle more than doubled the Spiders in rebounds and free throws, setting new season records in both categories with 54 boards and shooting 37-47 from the stripe. Sherman Diaz (Diego Martin, Trinidad & Tobago / Life Center Academy) was back in form, shooting 2-3 from beyond the arc and finishing with 2 points. He shot perfectly from the foul line along with Ruben Guillandeaux (Brooklyn, NY/St. Patrick's) making all this free throws. The freshman finished out the double digit scorers, dropping point in his 27 minutes.
GAME SUMMARIES Sat. January 27 Fordham 62 EXPLORERS 54 PHILADELPHIA, PA - The Explorers battled for all 4 minutes, but couldn't hold onto a 37-34 second half lead after suffering a 6-5 Fordham run that they couldn't bounce back from. Fordham maintained the edge for most of the game, holding the lead for a total of 3 minutes and answering the call VISITORS: Fordham 2-7, 5-2 A- each time La Salle took a one or two-point lead. La Salle had 3 GREENE, Sebastian -6-3 3-4 3 3 6 3 5 3 4 2 39 more recurring problems with possession, giving up 23 points 3 OSEI, Dominic 42 DUNSTON, Bryant - 2-3 - - - 4-6 5 6 4 8 2 2 2 7 9 29 off of lost balls and almost doubling the Rams in turnovers STOUT, Marcus 7-7 -9 5-8 5 6 2 2 2 4 5 38 with 2. 4 ANDERSON, Kevin 4-7 2-3 5-5 5 3 4 29 4 TANNER, Herb - - - 4 The Explorers got there biggest lead of the second half 2 BINNS, Michael 24 BUTLER, Brenton -2 4-6 - 2-4 - - 2 2 2 2 34 when, with the score tied at 34-34 seven minutes in, junior 5 BETHEL, Chris TEAM 2-5 - - 2 4 4 7 Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances) scored his first Totals 2-48 5-2 7-23 6 26 7 62 4 2 8 3 2 points of the game when he was fouled on a jumper and made the ensuing foul shot. Then, just one minute and 4 seconds TOTAL FG% st Half: 3-Pt. FG% st Half: -25 2-4.% 8.2% 2nd Half: 2nd Half: -23 3-43.5% 3.% Game: Game: 4.7% 23.8% DEADB REBS after opening up the 3-point lead, Harris was injured after tangling F Throw % st Half: 5-6 83.3% 2nd Half: 2-7 7.6% Game: 73.9% 4 legs with an opponent. He would return to the floor later HOME TEAM: LASALLE 9-2, 2-5 A- with one minute remaining but couldn't muster any additional points. His last foul shot was the 999th point of his career. 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 2-7 - -2 2 4 6 2 5 3 25 Freshman Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) 42 ST. JOHN, Mike GREEN, Rodney 3-4 5-2 -2 - - 2-2 3 2 3 2 6 4 3 4 7 2 2 3 33 25 continued his stretch of double-figure games. He led La Salle HARRIS, Darnell -8-4 - 2 2 3 2 4 24 scoring, walking away with 2 points and four rebounds. 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben 4-3 -2 2-2 3 4 3 2 3 34 JOHNSON, Paul 2-5 - -2 3 4 2 5 3 4 Ruben Guillandeaux (Brooklyn, NY/St. Patrick's) dropped 3 DIAZ, Sherman 5 BARRETT, Kimmani -2 2-6 - - - 4-4 5 5 3 3 8 2 2 7 2 another, shooting 2-2 from the stripe. 4 GRIMES, Brian -3 - -2 2 2 7 TEAM 7 5 2 Totals 2-6 -9 3-7 26 2 46 8 54 5 2 6 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 7-34 2.6% 2nd Half: 3-26 5.% Game: 33.3% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: -6 6.7% 2nd Half: -3.% Game:.% REBS F Throw % st Half: 7-7.% 2nd Half: 6-7 85.7% Game: 76.5% 2 Wed. January 3 Charlotte 87 EXPLORERS 8 Halton Arena - Charlotte, NC VISITORS: LaSalle Explorers 9-3, 2-6 A- 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 2-4 - - 2 5 4 3 2 2 8 42 ST. JOHN, Mike -5-2 - 5 6 4 2 4 4 32 GREEN, Rodney 4-4 - 7-7 2 3 4 5 4 2 28 HARRIS, Darnell 5-8 2-4 -2 3 3 5 3 3 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben 4-7 3-4 - 3 4 2 3 4 29 JOHNSON, Paul 7-4 -2 3-5 2 4 6 3 7 27 3 DIAZ, Sherman 4-4 2-2 - 2 2 5 2 6 5 BARRETT, Kimmani -2 - - 2 9 2 NEAL, Sean - - - + 4 GRIMES, Brian 4-5 - - 2 2 8 TEAM Totals 3-54 7-6 -4 9 2 29 3 8 4 6 4 4 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 7-27 63.% 2nd Half: 4-27 5.9% Game: 57.4% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 5-9 55.6% 2nd Half: 2-7 28.6% Game: 43.8% REBS F Throw % st Half: 3-3 % 2nd Half: 8-72.7% Game: 78.6% 2 HOME TEAM: Charlotte 49ers 9-, 3-5 A- DRAYTON, E.J. 7-7 - 2-5 6 5 2 26 2 2 2 39 5 ALEXANDER, De'Angelo 4-9 2-4 7-7 6 7 3 7 3 33 COLEMAN, Antwon 3-8 - -2 5 6 2 3 ANDERSEN, Ian - - - 3 2 GOLDWIRE, Leemire 5-6 5-4 - 2 3 25 3 37 2 WILLIAMS, Courtney -2 - - 2 2 2 8 24 WILLIAMS, Carlos 3-2-4 3-3 2 2 2 3 35 PHALER, Sean - - - 2 4 JAMISON, Jerell -2 - - 3 3 9 TEAM 2 3 Totals 23-56 9-24 32-37 5 5 3 9 87 3 5 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 2-29 4.4% 2nd Half: -27 4.7% Game: 4.% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 5-45.5% 2nd Half: 4-3 3.8% Game: 37.5% REBS F Throw % st Half: 8-72.7% 2nd Half: 24-26 92.3% Game: 86.5% 3 CHARLOTTE, NC -- The La Salle University Explorers (9-3, 2-6) made their first trip to Charlotte and dropped an 87-8 decision after squandering a 4-point second-half lead on Wednesday night at Halton Arena. The Explorers trailed after DeAngelo Alexander hit a threepointer on the game s first possession but the Explorers answered with eight straight points, including a Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances) three-pointer which put the Explorers on top and vaulted the junior over the -point mark for career points. The Explorers would build as much as an -point lead in the first half and take 42-37 lead into the locker room after twenty minutes. The Explorers would expand that lead to 4 points in the second half when Harris hit a baseline jumper with 9:5 to play to give his team a 65-5 lead. Over the next six minutes the 49ers cut into the lead with full-court pressure and second-chance buckets - they had 5 offensive rebounds to cut the lead to 75-73 when EJ Drayton tipped in Carlos Williams miss with 3.4 to play. At the 3:42 mark, with the Explorers lead cut to six points at 75-69, freshman Ruben Guillandeaux (Brooklyn, NY/St. Patrick) was called for a technical foul after being warned by the officials for scuffling with Charlotte s Carlos Williams on the inbounds. Leemire Goldwire hit both free throws and EJ Drayton tipped in a missed jumper to cut the lead to 75-73. After an Explorer turnover on the next possession Goldwire capitalized on another offensive rebound with a three-pointer to put the 49ers on top at 76-75. The 49ers went eight for eight down the stretch and made their last 2 free throws over the final.29 of the game to put the win away.
Sun. February 4 Temple 89 EXPLORERS 64 Liacouras Center - Philadelphia, PA VISITORS: LASALLE 9-4, 2-7 A 42 ST. JOHN, Mike -5-3 -4 7 8 4 3 23 5 BARRETT, Kimmani 5-6 - 2-2 3 3 6 2 2 25 GREEN, Rodney 5-9 - 2-3 3 4 7 3 2 2 6 2 3 HARRIS, Darnell 2-7 -4-2 4 2 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben 4-6 -2-2 9 4 3 3 JOHNSON, Paul 3-7 - 2-2 2 2 8 25 3 DIAZ, Sherman 2-4 -3-2 2 5 2 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 4-9 - 2-4 4 3 7 3 24 4 GRIMES, Brian -3 - - 2 8 TEAM Totals 26-56 3-5 9-6 5 2 36 2 64 8 2 3 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 4-28 5.% 2nd Half: 2-28 42.9% Game: 46.4% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 2-5 4.% 2nd Half: -.% Game: 2.% REBS F Throw % st Half: 3-5 6.% 2nd Half: 6-54.5% Game: 56.3% 3, HOME TEAM: Temple 9-2, 3-5 A 4 DACONS, Dion 2-3 - 5-6 2 5 7 9 35 3 SALISBERY, Dustin 6-2 5-7 2-2 3 4 4 9 2 29 3 TYNDALE, Mark -8-2 - 3 7 2 22 5 2 4 36 5 INGE, Semaj 2-4 - -2 2 5 2 2 2 22 CHRISTMAS, Dionte 8-5 -5-7 2 3 3 33 SHANAHAN, Brian - - - CLARK, Chris -4 - - 3 2 5 9 2 BROOKS, Ryan 4-7 3-4 - 2 5 GUZMAN, Luis - - - 2 3 4 OLMOS, Sergio -2 - - 2 2 2 5 32 KIRKENDOLL, DaShone - - - 3 44 IVORY, Anthony -2 - - 2 TEAM 6 7 Totals 35-67 -9 9-2 3 9 32 4 89 8 8 6 3 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 22-34 64.7% 2nd Half: 3-33 39.4% Game: 52.2% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 9-3 69.2% 2nd Half: -6 6.7% Game: 52.6% REBS F Throw % st Half: 3-5 6.% 2nd Half: 6-7 85.7% Game: 75.% Wed. February 7 Duquesne EXPLORERS 5 GAME SUMMARIES VISITORS: Duquesne -, 6-4 A 23 MITCHELL, Robert -8-3 - 2 3 5 3 2 8 3 GROTE, Scott 3-4 - 5-5 5 6 5 2 3 3 JACKSON, Reggie 7-5 2-5 7-7 3 3 3 23 4 4 4 23 2 FAYNE, Phillip -3 - - 3 3 9 22 TUCKER, Gary 5-9 -2 2-2 2 3 2 3 JACKSON, Aaron 6-3-5 7-8 4 5 3 22 2 26 2 ACHARA, Kieron 6- - 5-7 3 8 3 7 4 25 4 SHERWOOD, Jimmy 5-6 5-6 - 2 5 3 7 3 WOOD, Stephen -4-2 - 2 2 7 43 DUTY, Jason -6-5 - 2 2 2 3 9 TEAM 2 3 5 Totals 36-76 3-3 26-29 5 23 38 29 4 3 5 8 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 7-37 45.9% 2nd Half: 9-39 48.7% Game: 47.4% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 7-7 4.2% 2nd Half: 6-3 46.2% Game: 43.3% REBS F Throw % st Half: 6-7 85.7% 2nd Half: 2-22 9.9% Game: 89.7% HOME TEAM: LASALLE 9-5, 2-8 A JOHNSON, Paul 2-2 - - 2 4 2 MEKONGO MBALA, Yves 5- - 3-4 4 4 8 4 3 5 2 27 GREEN, Rodney 7-2 - 4-9 2 6 8 2 8 2 3 2 HARRIS, Darnell 6-2 5-8 3-4 3 2 2 32 34 GUILLANDEAUX, Ruben 2-4 - 9-2 3 3 4 5 3 3 3 DIAZ, Sherman 3-6 -2-4 4 7 3 3 5 BARRETT, Kimmani 6- - 6-6 3 3 6 2 8 2 2 29 2 NEAL, Sean - - - 3 5 3 4 GRIMES, Brian. -2 - - 8 42 ST. JOHN, Mike 2-6 - 3-5 4 4 5 8 2 8 TEAM 3 2 5 Totals 34-67 9-3 28-39 5 26 4 23 5 23 6 3 7 2 TOTAL FG% st Half: 2-33 6.6% 2nd Half: 4-34 4.2% Game: 5.7% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% st Half: 7-8 87.5% 2nd Half: 2-5 4.% Game: 69.2% REBS F Throw % st Half: -5 66.7% 2nd Half: 8-24 75.% Game: 7.8% 6, PHILADELPHIA, PA - After trading leads eight times in the first nine minutes of play the Temple Owls (9-2, 3-5, -3 Big 5) went on a 22-4 run and never looked back in capturing as 89-64 win over the La Salle Explorers (9-4, 2-6, -3 Big 5) in Atlantic play on Sunday afternoon at the Liacouras Center. With the game tied at 2-2 with : left in the first half Dustin Salisbery hit one of his five three-pointers to start the Owl run. The Explorers allowed 5 more points than they had in any first half of the season and trailed 56-33 at halftime. Sherman Diaz' (Diego Martin, Trinidad & Tobago/Life Center) made a lay-up with 9:56 to play but turnovers on three consecutive possesions led to a lay-up and a pair or rim-rattling dunks from the Owls' Mark Tyndale to squelch any Explorer hopes of crawling back into the game. The six points were among 25 scored by Temple in the fast break. Freshman Kimmani Barrett (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic) and Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) each had a dozen points to lead the Explorers. The Explorers turned the ball over ten more times than the Owls leading to 22 Temple points. The 25 point loss marked the Explorers largest margin of defeat this season. The Explorers and Owls square off again on February 4th at 7: PM at Tom Gola Arena. PHILADELPHIA, PA - The La Salle Explorers (9-5, 2-8) opened the game with a - run and led for most of the way but a would-be dunk to potentially seal the game would not go down and the Duquesne Dukes (-, 6-4) rallied for a -5 victory in a track meet on Wednesday night at Tom Gola Arena. Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances) went four-for-four from the arc in the first half and the Explorers led by as many as 2 but the Duke's Jimmy Sherwood - who took two three-pointers all season prior to the game - went five-for six from the arc in the first half to keep his team close. The Dukes cut the Explorer lead to a point at 6-59 with 7:45 remaining on a jumper by Reggie Jackson who took the Explorers for 23 points to lead the way. The Explorers built that lead back to seven points but Duquesne would not go away as Gary Tucker's three-pointer at 3:5 gave Duquesne its first lead of the game, 73-72. The Explorers again had the answer and built a -point lead, 95-85, on Kimmani Barrett's dunk with 5.24 to play. After keeping Duquesne at bay for the next three minutes the Explorers seemed to be poised to slam the game home with a 2-97 lead and only 2. to play when Mike St. John (Northboro, MA/River School) went for a seemingly uncontested dunk. Kieran Achara - who picked up his third foul early in the first half - recovered in time to block the dunk enough to force a miss. Aaron Jackson hit a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, St. John made just one of two free throws 2 seconds later and the Explorers led 3-. Reggie Jackson hit a pair of free throws to bring Duquesne within one at 3-2 with.2 and freshman Ruben Guillandeaux (Brooklyn, NY/St. Patrick's) lost the ball on a drive that gave Duquesne an uncontested break-away and the lead for good, 4-3 with 65 seconds to play. Once, again, the opponent sealed the deal on the free throw line going nine-for-ten from the line in the closing minutes and finishing 26-29 while the Explorers missed foul shots (including two front-ends of one-and-ones) to finish 28-39 on the line.