Game Recap

PHILADELPHIA – The Explorers knew they had their hands full. After being outrebounded, 51-33, in its double-overtime loss to Manhattan on Saturday, La Salle's next matchup just so happened to be against the top rebounding team in the country from last year.

Quinnipiac led the nation in rebounds/game (42.1) in 2012-13 and ranked second nationally in rebounding margin (+10.4).

"It [Quinnipiac}] was a challenge that Coach G put front of us and the seniors had no choice but to step up," Duren said post-game.

Duren's comrades went toe-to-toe with the Bobcats on the boards, with each team pulling down 43. It was the first time Quinnipiac had been matched in the rebounding department in 33 games, as the Explorers grinded their way to a 73-67 home victory.

"He [Coach G] really challenged not only the big buys but also the guards," Steve Zack said, who pulled down six boards. "I think us all as a team stepped up with the rebounding."

Jerrell Wright hauled in a game-high 12 rebounds. Zack and D.J. Peterson yanked down six apiece and Duren tallied five. The effort reconciled many of Saturday's transgressions.

Tyrone Garland, who didn't bring in a single rebound in 44 minutes on Saturday, started the game on the bench. He played 27 vs. the Bobcats and pulled down the biggest rebound of the game with 22 seconds to go.

"I thought Ty responded today," head coach Dr. John Giannini said. "Sometimes you don't play well, you don't do something, and you learn from it and you do better. I'm pleased with him."

"People stepped up and took that challenge, and I'd say they passed it," Duren said. "We didn't do too well in the first half but everybody stepped up in the second half and took part of it."

The Explorers led, 35-31, at intermission but trailed 25-19 in rebounding. They flipped the script in the second half.

La Salle's zeal on the glass covered up many of the blemishes on its offense that has yet to hit its stride this season. They shot only 39 percent (25-65) from the field and 33 percent (3-9) from behind the arc.

"We're not going to shoot 46 percent in every game this year," head coach Dr. John Giannini said. "You're going to shoot your 38s and 58s and it's all going to even out."

"Offense is not always guaranteed but one thing you can control is defense," Duren said. "He [Coach G] tells us night in and night out that you're not always going to be on fire. As long as we come out and play defense I think we'll come out winning a lot more games than we lose."

The defense played a major part in Tuesday's victory, as the Blue and Gold limited the Bobcats to a 38 percent (23-60) mark from the field and 31 percent (4-13) clip from long range.

It was marked improvement from Saturday's loss as the Explorers maintain their goal of never losing two games in a row.

"Night in and night out, everybody's going to give us their best shot," Duren said. " We have the X on our backs now. Nobody's going to come here and lie down and let us beat them."

"We went the whole regular season last year without losing two games in a row and we darn sure weren't going to do it in our first two this year," Giannini said. "And we went all last year only losing two at home in 30-plus games. We sure weren't going to do it in the first two this year."

The home crowd came out in droves despite the 9 AM tip time. The game was televised on ESPN2 as part of ESPN's annual Tip-Off Marathon.