Philadelphia, PA-The La Salle University men's basketball team scored 19 points in overtime and they needed every one of them as they got past conference rival Fordham, 90-88, in a thriller at Tom Gola Arena.

 

The Explorers (6-14) finally sealed the game with 4.6 seconds to play when Jermaine Thomas (Frederick, MD/Thomas Johnson) stole the ball from Jermaine Anderson and converted both free throws to make it a two-possession game.    

 

Before that, it was a game of punch and counter-punch, with La Salle surging ahead and Fordham finding a way to keep it close.  Steven Smith (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) hit four clutch free throws in the last thirty seconds and led the Explorers with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and a career-high 6 assists despite playing the final 15 minutes with 4 fouls.

 

Thomas added 23 points of his own as the Explorers placed four starters in double figures.  Freshman Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Francis) had 17 points and six rebounds, while Mike St. John (Northboro, MA/River School) had 13 on 5-8 shooting.

 

It was La Salle's highest scoring output of the season.

 

The Explorers led, 44-38, at halftime.  Forward Mike St. John (Northboro, MA/River School) hit three of his first four shots, including two three-pointers, to pace the squad early.  They also switched into a man-to-man defense, which provided an additional spark, and after a baseline runner from Jermaine Thomas (Frederick, MD/Thomas Johnson) they led, 20-16.

 

The Explorers had assists on 13 of their 17 first-half field goals as they came in at 53% for the half, and Fordham wasn't far behind at 50%.