Game Recap

PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle community jammed Tom Gola Arena on Saturday afternoon to watch the Explorers snap a three-game losing streak in a 71-63 win over Duquesne.

But this was far from just another game.

This was the first game the Blue and Gold played at home since the passing of Tom Gola. He died on Sunday, January 26 at 81 years old. 

A moment of silence was observed pregame, and those in attendance gazed at Gola's #15 banner, hanging from the rafters in the building named after him.  

His wife, Caroline, was in attendance. During the observation, Philadelphia basketball legend Sonny Hill stood on Caroline's left with his arm draped around the widow.

They had a moment.

During halftime, a tribute video played on the video boards. It included highlights of Gola's career and interviews with former La Salle coach Speedy Morris, current coach Dr. John Giannini, Sonny Hill, and Tom Gola himself.

Everyone sat and watched.

Caroline cried and watched. The video included photos of their wedding, nearly 59 years ago.

She has admitted that she wasn't always a big basketball fan. In fact, when she and Tom first started dating, she would often bring a newspaper or a crossword puzzle to his games.

Not on Saturday. She watched the Explorers win their 34th home game in 41 tries.

To honor Gola's legacy, La Salle will wear a #15 patch on its uniforms the remainder of the season. 

"Great human being above everything else," Sonny Hill  told NBC Philadelphia earlier this week. "But before I knew him as a person, he was my hero."

During his heyday, Gola was everyone's hero – every young basketball player in Philadelphia, at least. Even Wilt Chamberlain's.

"The only one that would be above him would be Wilt," Hill said when asked about Gola's place in Philadelphia basketball lore. "That's how much Tom Gola is revered in this city."

And after all these years, he's still revered, even by those who never saw him play.

"He's a legend at La Salle as well as the city and worldwide," senior Tyreek Duren said. "He meant a lot [to this program]. Some of the things he did I honestly don't think will ever be done again.

"As far as how many rebounds he was averaging – I think Steve [Zack] is trying to get close to that."

Duren's remark was welcomed with laughter as he referenced his teammates' 16 rebound performance against the Dukes. Zack is only 1,752 boards shy of tying Gola's NCAA career record of 2,201, a mark most believe will never be broken.

"A lot's been said but you also can't say enough," Giannini said when asked to share his thoughts on Gola's passing.

"He's a once in forever player. He's not once in a lifetime. He's not once in a generation. He's not once in a century."

Gola is one of three players in history to win an NIT Championship, an NCAA Championship, and an NBA Championship.

"You can probably count on your fingers how many people in the history of basketball have accomplished what Tom Gola has," Giannini said. "And that's in addition to being a humble man who's adored by everyone who ever knew him.

"Words really don't do it justice."