Tabby Cunningham had four points and four assists.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - All-America candidate Steven Smith (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) registered his second double-double of the season, scoring 26 points and tying a career-high with 15 rebounds to lead La Salle (4-0) over crosstown rival Drexel (3-5), 62-50, as part of the Big 5 Classic at the Palestra. The Explorers are off to their best start since they went 5-0 at the outset of the 1994-95 season.

The first half was a closely contested one, as no team led by more than four points until the Explorers stretched the lead to six with under a minute to play. A jumper by Tabby Cunningham (Philadelphia, PA/St. John Neumann) with two seconds to go in the half gave La Salle an eight-point cushion at the break.

The Dragons fought back, cutting the lead to one point with under eight minutes to play in the game, but a Mike St. John (Northboro, MA/River School) three kickoff off a stretch that would seal the win for La Salle. On the next possession, St. John put up another three-pointer that bounced off the rim. Freshman Paul Johnson (Washington, DC/Gonzaga) missed a put-back, but Smith slammed home a follow dunk.

Drexel tried to press, but senior Jermaine Thomas (Fredrick, MD/Thomas Johnson) managed a long outlet pass for a fast-break dunk by Smith, who was fouled. After converting the old-fashioned three-point play, the score was 55-47. The Dragons would get no closer.

St. John finished with nine points and seven rebounds for the Explorers, who shot 43 percent from the floor. Cunningham had six points and four assists.

Frank Elegar had a double-double for Drexel, leading the team with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Freshman Scott Rodgers kicked in eight points off the bench.

The Explorers are off until Dec. 11, when they travel to Harrisonburg, VA, to play James Madison.