Olean, NY-The La Salle University Men's basketball team finished a month-long, seven game road trip with a 68-57 victory over Saint Bonaventure in the Reilly Center.  The Explorers improve to 1-1 in the Atlantic 10 and have won three of their last four games. 

 

La Salle (4-8) led by as many as 16 in the second half, but had to weather a late comeback attempt by the Bonnies, who used a 9-1 run to surge ahead, 39-38.  But the Explorers answered with a run of their own, 30-18, and cruised to the victory.

 

Jermaine Thomas (Frederick, MD/Thomas Johnson) scored a season-high 18 points to lead all scorers and also handed out 3 assists.  Junior Steven Smith (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) also posted 18 points - 13 of them in the second half - and a season-high 13 rebounds for his 4^th double-double of the season. 

 

Both teams struggled offensively, but the Explorers were electric in transition and got some easy baskets.  They finished the game shooting 45% from the field, while limiting the Bonnies to just 35%.

 

It was an impressive team effort for the Explorers.  Freshman Tabby Cunningham (Philadelphia, PA/St. John Neuman) had perhaps his best game to date, scoring 9 points and matching his career-high with 6 assists.  Mike St. John (Northboro, MA/River School) also had a solid game, depositing 9 points, and Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Francis) added 8 markers.   

 

Ahmad Smith led St. Bonaventure with 14 points.

 

The Explorers will (finally) return home on Tuesday, January 11^th when they host Florida International at Tom Gola Arena.  Tip-off is slated for 7:05 P.M.