PHILADELPHIA, PA - Freshman Tabby Cunningham (Philadelphia, PA/St. John Neuman) scored seven of his career-high 17 points in overtime as the La Salle Explorers defeated Florida International, 74-72, in a hectic game at Tom Gola Arena.

The game featured a chaotic, heart-stopping end to regulation. The Explorers led, 62-61, with 6.5 seconds remaining when Steven Smith (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) hit two clutch free throws to extend the lead to 64-61. But the Golden Panthers charged down court and guard Junior Matias was fouled as he heaved a desperation three as time was set to expire. He sunk all three to send the game to overtime.

But the extra session quickly became the Tabby Cunningham show, as the freshman guard hit a three pointer, scored on a step-through jumper, then went coast-to-coast after a steal to extend the Explorer lead to 73-69.

But the drama was only beginning. After Jermaine Thomas (Frederick, MD/Thomas Johnson) hit one of two free throws to extend the La Salle lead to 74-72, Florida International had one last chance to strike back. They fed brawny center Byron Burnett in the lane, and he was fouled creating a one-and-one situation. Burnett missed the first, but the ball was deflected out to the Golden Panthers, who then missed two open shots, one as the clock expired, to end the game.

Steven Smith led the Explorers (5-8) with 22 points on 7-of-15 shooting in 45 exhausting minutes of action. He also had eight rebounds. Cunningham, the aforementioned overtime hero, finished with four assists in addition to his 17 points. Fellow freshman Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Francis) connected on 4-of-9 from beyond the arc to close with 15 points in 44 minutes of action.

The Explorers won despite a marvelous display from FIU forward Ivan Almonte, who scored a game-high 24 points on 11-of-14 shooting.

La Salle has now won four of their last five contests.

The Explorers will return to action on Saturday, January 15th as they take on Saint Joseph's in a Big 5 clash at the Palestra. The game is set to tip at 2:05 P.M..