La Salle Gets NIT Invite For First Post Season Berth In 20 Years

La Salle's consistent play over the entire season was probably the key factor in the Explorer's first postseason invitation in 20 years as the NIT came calling on Sunday night.  La Salle was one of only three teams across the country to never lose a game by double figures.  Wins over NCAA tournament participants Xavier and St.Bonaventure along with three total wins over NIT tournament participants UMass and Bucknell helped pave the way to the Explorers not only getting the NIT bid, but also securing a 3 seed and getting a nationally-televised home game against Big 10 member Minnesota.  The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 on Wednesday night at 7pm.

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2012/3/11/MBB_0311122305.aspx?path=mbball

http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/031112aaa.html

http://www.philahoops.com/st-joes-la-salle-join-drexel-in-nit/

http://www.philahoops.com/wednesday-preview-la-salles-postseason-return-begins-with-minnesota/

Explorers Fall To St.Louis 78-71 In A10 Quarterfinals

Cold first half shooting and some late defensive lapses were the difference in La Salle's 78-71 quarterfinal loss to St.Louis in the Atlantic Ten tournament.  The Explorers had to fight uphill all game as they fell behind by a 14-2 score only five minutes into the game.  La Salle got numerous open looks against the typically stingy Billiken defense but could only make 37.5% of them in the first half with the majority of them coming in the first five minutes.
Just when it looked like St.Louis might cruise to an easy victory, the Explorers inched their way back, cutting the Billikens lead to one point on three different occasions, the last with just under six minutes to go in the first half.  St.Louis responded with a 17-7 run until a late Earl Pettis three brought La Salle within six points at the half. 

The Billikens kept the Explorers at bay early in the second half and were able to extend their lead to eleven with ten minutes to play.  And once again, La Salle fought back to a 57-56 deficit with just over four minutes left.  But the Explorer defense was caught sleeping as St. Louis' Brian Conklin slipped inside for two easy baskets sandwiched around a make by Pettis and the final dagger was a three by the Billiken's Mike McCall which point St.Louis up by seven points 1:34 to go.  Pettis gave La Salle some life by making all three free throws after being fouled while shooting from beyond the arc which cut the Billiken lead to four.  But the Explorers were forced to foul the rest of the way and St.Louis went 9-9 from the line in the last minute to clinch the win.

In what might be his last game in a La Salle uniform, Earl Pettis hit a number of big shots and led the team with 18 points.  Also in double figures for the Explorers were Ramon Galloway, who scored all 14 of his points in the second half, and Tyreek Duren (13).  For St.Louis, Mike McCall (16) led four players in double figures.

With the loss, La Salle falls to 21-11 on the season, and will be crossing their fingers hoping for an invitation to either the NIT, CBI, or CIT tournaments.  St. Louis improves to 25-6 and will face Xavier in a semifinal matchup on Friday night.

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2012/3/9/MBB_0309121752.aspx?path=mbball

http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=205395065

La Salle Moves To AC With 80-72 Win Over Richmond

Balanced scoring and an outstanding defensive effort by the Explorers frontline led La Salle to a 80-72 first round A10 tournament win over the Richmond Spiders.  After a nip and tuck battle through the first fifteen minutes, La Salle finally took the lead for good with a little over four minutes to go in the first half and extended it to a 40-33 lead at the half.

Richmond kept it close, cutting the Explorers lead to 3 with just over eleven minutes to go in the game, when La Salle went on a 21-7 run giving them a 15 point lead with just under four minutes to play.  The Explorers coasted the rest of the way for the eight point win.

Ramon Galloway led the way with 17 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds while Earl Pettis (15), Jerrell Wright (14), and Devon White (13) also scored in double figures.  Tyreek Duren and Sam Mills combined for 16 points and 6 assists.  Wright and White also did an outstanding job shutting down Richmond's Derrick Williams, holding him to 14 points and 10 rebounds after he dominated the Explorers in the regular season matchup between the two teams. 

Darien Brothers singlehandedly kept the Spiders in the game while scoring 22 first half points but was kept in check by the defense of Galloway in the second half.  Brothers finished with 31 points.

With the win, the Explorers improve to 21-11 on the season and will advance to an A10 quarterfinal matchup against Saint Louis on Thursday.  Richmond finished their season with a 16-16 record.

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2012/3/6/MBB_0306123922.aspx?path=mbball

http://www.richmondspiders.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=26800&ATCLID=205393238

Explorers Grab 20th Win In 71-61 Victory Over St.Bonaventure

La Salle reached the 20 win mark for the first time in two decades and sent a Senior Day crowd home happy with an impressive 71-61 victory over St. Bonaventure.  Seniors Earl Pettis and Matt Sheehan were honored before the game and crowd favorite Sheehan was awarded his first start in an Explorer uniform.  La Salle came out aggressive early, holding Bonnies star Andrew Nicholson to only four first half points, which allowed the Explorers to go into the break with a comfortable 38-26 lead.

But Nicholson came out hot in the second half and helped St. Bonaventure narrow the deficit to two points with just under ten minutes to play.  The Explorers then went on a 9-1 run of their own to put them back up by ten with just over five minutes left and they cruised home the rest of the way behind the hot hand of Tyreek Duren and an outstanding overall team defensive effort.  In particular, Ramon Galloway's ability to shut down the Bonnies point guards and the low post defensive efforts of Jerrell Wright, Devon White, and Steve Zack on the ultra-talented Nicholson were the difference in the game.

Duren led the Explorers with 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists while Pettis (16), Wright (10), and White (10) also scored in double figures.  Nicholson led St. Bonaventure with 19 points and 8 rebounds while Demetrius Conger added 18 points and 9 rebounds.

La Salle finishes the regular season with a 20-11 record overall and a 9-7 A10 record which allowed them to tie for fifth place.  With the loss, St. Bonaventure finishes the regular season with a 17-11 record overall and a 10-6 A10 record which allowed them to finish in a tie for third place.  With the tiebreakers, La Salle will be seeded seventh in the A10 tournament and will face tenth-seeded Richmond at Gola Arena on Tuesday night.  St. Bonaventure was awarded the fourth seed and will get a first-round bye and proceed direct to Atlantic City for a quarterfinal matchup on Thursday afternoon.

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2012/3/3/MBB_0303122112.aspx?path=mbball

http://gobonnies.com/sports/m-baskbl/2011-12/releases/20120303v2w6jx

La Salle Hangs On For Crucial 60-56 Win Over GW

La Salle led from start to finish but had to withstand a late GW rally to hold on for a critical 60-56 road win for the Explorers.  The win clinched a first round A10 playoff game that will be held at Tom Gola Arena next Tuesday.  La Salle took a five point lead into the half and increased the lead to 57-47 with just over three minutes to go when the Colonials made their last run.  A basket by GW's Tony Taylor with twenty-one seconds to go cut the Explorer's lead to one, but Tyreek Duren and Devon White combined to go three for six from the foul line in the last sixteen seconds which was enough to hold off GW.

The star of the game for La Salle was freshman power forward Jerrell Wright who scored 15 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, and more importantly, was able to stay on the floor for 30 minutes.  Also in double figures for the Explorers were Earl Pettis (14) and Duren (12) while Sam Mills and Ramon Galloway chipped in 9 points each.

GW was led by David Pellom's 16 points and 11 rebounds.

With the win, La Salle improves to 19-11 overall and 8-7 in the A10, while GW falls to 10-19 overall and 5-10 in A10 play.

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2012/2/29/MBB_0229122329.aspx?path=mbball

http://www.gwsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/022912aaa.html#

Explorers Don't Show Up In 67-62 Loss To Fordham



In their worst effort of the season, La Salle coughed away an eleven point halftime lead and fell to last place Fordham by a 67-62 score.  Poor defense, shooting, rebounding, and coaching all contributed to the embarrassing loss.  The Explorers had no answer for the Rams' Chris Gaston who scored 35 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, with 15 of them coming off the offensive glass.

Ramon Galloway's 14 points led five La Salle players in double figures.  Branden Frazier (11) was the only other Fordham player in double figures besides Gaston.

With the loss, La Salle falls to 18-11 overall and 7-7 in A10 play.  Fordham improved to 10-17 overall and 3-11 in the A10.

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2012/2/25/MBB_0225124115.aspx?path=mbball

http://www.fordhamsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/022512aaa.html#

Owls Escape With 80-79 OT Win Over La Salle

Earl Pettis and Sam Mills missed open three point attempts in the last five seconds, allowing Temple to escape Tom Gola Arena with a hard fought 80-79 overtime win over La Salle.  The Explorers played from behind for most of the game and went into halftime trailing 32-29.  The Owls led for most of the second half and held a ten point lead with just over four minutes to go but the Explorers chipped away at the lead.  With help from a technical foul on Temple's Ramone Moore, they cut the Owl's lead to two points after Pettis made both technical foul shots.  La Salle maintained possession and eight seconds into the possession, Tyreek Duren found Pettis open on the perimeter and he drained a three to tie the game with 1:25 to go in regulation.  Khalif Wyatt missed a jumper with just over a minute to go and La Salle had a chance to take the lead, but Duren missed a runner with thirty-three seconds to go.  Temple worked the ball until there were six seconds left and called a timeout to set up a play, but were unable to get a shot off as Wyatt lost track of time and dribbled out the clock.
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The Explorers struck first in OT on a Pettis three, but Temple scored nine straight points to take an 80-74 lead with just over two minutes to go and they would not score again.  Duren hit a three and Pettis made a two to cut the Owls lead to one with fifty-five seconds left.  La Salle held Temple again and gained possession with thirty-seven seconds left.  With five seconds left, Pettis got an open look from three that rimmed out, but DJ Peterson grabbed the offensive rebound and found an open Mills in the corner.  His three point attempt with two seconds left bounced off the rim as the final buzzer sounded giving the Owls their eleventh straight win.
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Pettis scored a career high 33 points for La Salle and was joined in double figures by Mills (12), Ramon Galloway (12), and Duren (10).  Jerrell Wright added 9 points for the Explorers and Galloway handed out 6 assists.  For Temple, Wyatt's 25 points led four players in double figures.
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http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2012/2/22/MBB_0222124403.aspx?path=mbball
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http://www.owlsports.com/news/2012/2/22/MBB_0222124120.aspx

Explorers Stop The Pain With A 72-71 Win At UMass

Tyreek Duren's short jumper with fifty seconds to go broke a 66-66 tie and the La Salle Explorers held on for a 72-71 win at UMass.  The Minutemen's Terrell Vinson hit a shot at the buzzer that looked like it might tie the game, but his foot was over the three point line and the Explorers escaped with the win.  The loss by UMass was their first at the Mullins Center in the 2011-12 season.

Duren scored all 15 of his points in the second half and knocked down three of four free throws in the final minute to secure the win for La Salle.  Also in double figures for the Explorers were Earl Pettis with 18 and Ramon Galloway and Sam Mills scoring 15 each.  UMass had three players in double figures, led by Maxie Esho's 18 points and 6 rebounds. 

The win by La Salle broke a three game losing streak as they improved to 18-9 overall and 7-5 in the A10 while UMass fell to 18-8 over and 7-5 in A10 play.

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2012/2/18/MBB_0218124553.aspx?path=mbball

http://www.umassathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/021812aab.html#



La Salle Falls To Saint Louis 59-51 For Third Straight Loss

Saint Louis' stifling defense was too much as the Billikens shut down the slumping La Salle Explorers by a 59-51 score.  The loss was the third straight for the Explorers whose 14 game home winning streak came to an end.  Saint Louis dictated the pace as the teams went back and forth in a low scoring first half, ending with the Billikens holding a 26-23 lead.

The second half was more of the same with the teams exchanging leads until Saint Louis broke a 47-47 tie on a Mike McCall three with just under five minutes to play.  The closest La Salle would get after that was 52-49 on a three by Tyreek Duren with 1:16 left in the game.  The Explorers got a crucial stop with forty-two seconds left but Dwayne Evans was able to grab the offensive rebound and get the putback to give the Billikens a five point lead with thirty-eight seconds to go.  La Salle turned it over on their next possession and Saint Louis went 5-6 from the free throw line in the final twenty seconds to close out the win.

Evans was one of four Billiken players in double figures, leading the way with 16 points and 13 rebounds.  Jerrell Wright was the lone Explorer in double figures, scoring 18 points and grabbing 9 rebounds.

With the loss, La Salle fell to 17-9 overall and 6-5 in the A10 and Saint Louis improved to 20-5 overall and 8-3 in A10 play.

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2012/2/11/MBB_0211122358.aspx?path=mbball

http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=93215&DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=205378302

La Salle Loses 78-76 Heartbreaker At Richmond

Richmond's Derrick Williams scored on a putback of a Cedric Lindsay miss with just under six seconds to go to give the Spiders a 78-76 win over La Salle.  Williams was unstoppable on the low block in the second half and finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds for Richmond.   La Salle jumped out to an eleven point lead late in the first half but Richmond went on a run of their own to narrow the deficit to two by halftime.  Neither team led by more than six points during a closely contested second half.

With just under a minute to go and  the score tied at 76, the Explorers had the ball but turned it over on a shot clock violation with twenty-one seconds to go.  The Spiders' worked the clock until just under ten seconds to go when Cedric Lindsay penetrated and lofted a floater that bounced off the rim.  Williams collared the rebound and scored what turned out to be the winning basket with just under six seconds left.  After a La Salle timeout, the Explorers ran the ball up the floor but Ramon Galloway was unable to get off a contested three point shot before the buzzer sounded.

In addition to Williams, Darien Brothers (13) and Wayne Sparrow (10) scored in double figures for the Spiders.  Darrius Garrett also chipped in with 11 rebounds and 6 blocked shots.  Tyreek Duren (17), Sam Mills (16), Ramon Galloway (15)  and Jerrell Wright (11) scored in double figures for the Explorers.  Galloway also contributed 9 assists and 7 rebounds.

La Salle lost their second straight game, falling to 17-8 overall and 6-4 in the A10 while Richmond improved to 13-12 overall and 4-6 in A10 play.

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2012/2/8/MBB_0208120412.aspx?path=mbball

http://www.richmondspiders.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=91946&DB_OEM_ID=26800&ATCLID=205375905