Mike St. John picked up a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Steven Smith had 16 points and nine rebounds.

Coach John Giannini's Explorers improved to 7-0.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - For the second time in three days the La Salle men's basketball team needed more than the regulation 40 minutes to win a ballgame. After defeating Central Connecticut State in quadruple-overtime on Dec. 18, the Explorers came back from a 16-point deficit to beat Florida International, 70-61, requiring only one extra frame.

Trailing by eight points with six minutes left in regulation, the Explorers mounted their comeback. A pair of free throws by senior Jermaine Thomas (Frederick, MD/Thomas Johnson) cut it to six, before Thomas sank a three-pointer on La Salle's next possession. The guard scored his 1,000th career point earlier in the half and finished with 13.

After Florida International's Ismael N'Diaye committed a turnover, sophomore Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Francis) was fouled and sank one of two free throws, shaving the Golden Panthers' lead to two. N'Diaye missed a lay-up that led to another Thomas three to give the Explorers their first lead.

An Elvis Lora three-pointer gave FIU the lead again before a Mike St. John (Northboro, MA/River School) lay-up and old-fashioned three-point play put La Salle back on top. Lora hit another trey to put Florida International ahead before senior Steven Smith (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) banked a shot off the glass to tie it with 30 seconds to play.

The Explorers took control early in the overtime, breaking off a 7-0 run ignited by a Sherman Diaz (Diego Martin, Trinidad/Life Center Academy) three-pointer. La Salle outscored Florida International 11-2 in the extra period.

The Explorers came out flat to start the game, falling behind 16-6 and trailed 39-23 at the half. Diaz, who did not play at all in the first half, started the second half and gave La Salle a much-needed spark off the bench. The sophomore finished with 11 points and three key rebounds. The 11 points tied a career high for Diaz.

For the second game in a row, five Explorers scored in double-figures, led by Smith's 16 points. St. John added 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Harris chipped in 12. Lora led all scorers with 17 points for the Golden Panthers.

The win puts La Salle at 7-0, the program's best start since going 8-0 in 1989-90. Florida International falls to 3-6.

La Salle wraps up a stretch of three games in five days on Dec. 22, with a game at Villanova. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.