The La Salle University men's basketball team was defeated, 63-52, by a tough Virginia Commonwealth squad in a non-conference clash in Richmond.

 

They fell despite another stellar performance from Junior Steven Smith (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) who scored 25 points and snatched six rebounds in forty minutes of action.  He was 11-of-19 from the field and 2-for-4 from three-point range.   

 

The Explorers (1-6) made a charge in the second half but were unable to catch the Rams (4-3), who used a balanced attack to surge ahead.  VCU, who is coached by former Duke standout Jeff Capel, was led by forward Nick George with 15 points, and also received 13 points from both B.A. Walker and Michael Doles.

 

Freshman Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Francis) chipped in 11 points for La Salle and also had two steals.  The Explorers also saw the emergence of front-court players Mike St. John (Northboro, MA/River School) and Lewis Fadipe (Lagos, Nigeria/Forest Hill School).  St. John collected three points and six rebounds and Fadipe scored five points and had five boards in only 14 minutes of action.  Jermaine Thomas (Frederick, MD/Thomas Johnson) was held scoreless but played 29 gritty minutes through a hamstring injury.   

 

La Salle shot 41.7 from the field and turned the ball over just 11 times.  They trailed, 31-25, at halftime.