La Salle Cruises Past Northeastern 68-51

La Salle used stingy defense and hot perimeter shooting to run away from Northeastern by a 68-51 score.  The Explorers made 7 of 8 shots from beyond the arc in the second half to help open up a double digit lead with fifteen minutes remaining.  Northeastern was never able to get closer than 13 points the rest of the way.  The win was La Salle's fifth straight at Tom Gola Arena.

Earl Pettis led the way with 15 points and 7 rebounds while Ramon Galloway (14), Tyreek Duren (13) and Jerrell Wright (11) also scored in double figures for the balanced Explorers.  Jonathan Lee scored 11 points for the Huskies but it was Sam Mills' defensive effort on Northeastern's leading scorer Joel Smith (2 points) that helped secure the victory.  Smith was averaging almost 18 points per game coming into the contest.

http://www.goexplorers.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball&tab=basketball2

http://gonu.com/news/2011/11/30/MBB_1130112047.aspx?path=mbball

Explorers Rebound With 82-70 Win Over Rider

La Salle broke a two game losing streak to ease past the Rider Broncs 82-70 in the final night of the Philly Hoop Group Classic at the Palestra.  The Explorers led throughout the game and broke it open with a 19-3 run midway through the second half and maintained a double digit lead the rest of the way.

Ramon Galloway led four La Salle players in double figures with 21 points along with 8 rebounds and 2 assists.  Also in double figures for the Explorers were Devon White (17 points and 7 rebounds), Sam Mills (13) and Earl Pettis (11).  Pettis dislocated the middle finger of his left hand late in the first half and did not return.  Rider was led by two former Philadelphia Catholic League stars in Monsignor Bonner's Jeff Jones (24) and Neumann-Goretti's Danny Stewart (22).

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2011/11/26/MBB_1126113021.aspx?path=mbball

http://www.gobroncs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=11878&DB_OEM_ID=20200&ATCLID=205338995

Cold Shooting Explorers Fall to Robert Morris 51-44

Despite turning in one of their best defensive performances of the season, La Salle dropped a 51-44 decision to the Robert Morris Colonials in a Philly Hoop Group Classic game at the Palestra.  The Explorers held the Colonials to 28% from the field but were only able to connect on 3 out of their 22 attempts from beyond the arc and shot only 31.9% from the floor themselves.

Sam Mills was the only Explorer in double figures with 15 points.  Ramon Galloway added 8 points in his first game back after missing the last three due to a concussion he suffered during the season opening win against Lafayette.  Robert Morris was led by former North Catholic star Velton Jones' 14 points and former Chester (PA) HS standout Russell Johnson's 12.

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2011/11/25/MBB_1125110722.aspx?path=mbball

http://www.rmucolonials.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=6516&DB_OEM_ID=13900&ATCLID=205338754

Explorers Fall to #17 Pitt 73-69

# 17 ranked Pitt held off a late La Salle comeback to beat the Explorers 73-69.  La Salle took their last lead of the game at 53-52 on a Steve Zack foul shot with just under eight minutes to play, but the Panthers went on a 13-2 run over the next five minutes to seemingly put the game away.  But the pesky Explorers chipped away at the lead and had a chance to tie the game after a Tyreek Duren steal with nine seconds to play.  Sam Mills decided to go for the quick two but his layup attempt was blocked by Travon Woodall which sealed the Pitt victory.

Earl Pettis led La Salle with 22 points while Devon White and Sam Mills chipped in with 12 each.  Pitt had four players in double figures, led by former Chester (PA) HS standout Nasir Robinson's 17 points.

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2011/11/22/MBB_1122112211.aspx?path=mbball

http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112211aaa.html

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/gametracker/recap/NCAAB_20111122_LSLE@PITT/pittsburgh-rallies-past-la-salle-for-win

Explorers Cruise Past James Madison For A 92-83 Homecoming Win

The Explorers used a 14-3 run midway through the second half to pull away from James Madison on their way to a 92-83 Homecoming Day victory in the first round of the Hoop Group Classic.  Four players scored in double figures for La Salle, led by Tyreek Duren's 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, along with freshman Jerrell's Wright's first career double-double (14 points, 12 rebounds, 1 block)

JMU was led by A.J. Davis with 21 points and Andrey Semenov with 18.

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2011/11/19/MBB_1119115424.aspx

http://www.jmusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=6826&DB_OEM_ID=14400&ATCLID=205336202

Villanova Steals 76-69 Overtime Win Over La Salle

Aided by a 41-11 advantage on the foul line, Villanova overcame a 5 point deficit with 1:22 left in regulation to defeat the Explorers 76-69 in overtime.  A steal and the resulting layup by freshman Darrun Hilliard that tied the game with just under a minute left pushed the momentum in Villanova's way and they pulled away in overtime.

Villanova was led by Maalik Wayns' 22 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists while La Salle was led by their sophomore backcourt of Tyreek Duren (24 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals) and Sam Mills (19 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists)

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2011/11/15/MBB_1115110311.aspx

http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/111511aab.html

Explorers Cage Leopards In Home Opener 79-53

La Salle followed up a strong exhibition showing against Carleton University with a 79-53 blowout of Lafayette.  The Explorers jumped out of the gate to a 13-2 lead and never looked back.  Once again, sophomore point guard Tyreek Duren led the way with 17 points along with 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals.  Also scoring in double figures were Earl Pettis (16), Taylor Dunn (12) and Sam Mills (10).  Devon White just missed a double-double with 9 points and 9 rebounds while freshmen D.J. Peterson (7 rebounds) and Jerrell Wright (6 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks) also played a large part in the blowout win.

The Explorers once again played outstanding defense, forcing the Leopards to shoot 36% from the field and limiting them to only 3 field goals from three point range. 

South Carolina transfer Ramon Galloway played well in limited minutes before going down with a concussion shortly before the end of the first half.  Ramon will miss Tuesday night's game against Big 5 rival Villanova and his status for the Homecoming game against James Madison is still unknown.

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2011/11/11/MBB_1111111058.aspx?path=mbball

http://articles.philly.com/2011-11-12/sports/30391433_1_jerrell-williams-ruben-guillandeaux-tom-gola-arena

http://www.goleopards.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/111111aaa.html

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/lafayette/index.ssf/2011/11/slow_start_dooms_lafayette_col.html

La Salle Locks Up Carleton 74-56

La Salle broke open a tight game early in the second half and went on to defeat Canadian National Champions Carleton University by a 74-56 score earlier tonight.  Tyreek Duren and Devon White led the way with 14 points each while four other players also scored in double figures for the Explorers.  Carleton was held to seven field goals in the second half while shooting 33.3% overall and drawing a blank from beyond the arc.

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2011/11/4/MBB_1104111742.aspx?path=mbball