Current A-10 Rookie of the Week Paul Johnson (10pts./6 reb./2 st.)

Darnell Harris found his stroke (4-7 on three-pointers)

Jermaine Thomas add 4 rebounds and 5 assists to his line

Marshall Taylor scored 10+ for the second time in his short career

PHILADELPHIA, PA - The La Salle men's basketball team (9-2, 1-0 Atlantic 10) opened its conference schedule with a matinee win over visiting Duquesne (2-10, 0-1), 84-61. After falling behind by as many as 11 points in the first half, the Explorers took control in the second half, powered by a 15-0 run.

Down 43-40 with under 16 minutes left on the clock, junior Mike St. John (Northboro, MA/River School) sank a free throw to kick off the run. Senior Steven Smith (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) hit a face-up jumper on La Salle's next possession, and senior Jermaine Thomas (Frederick, MD/Thomas Johnson) made the most out of a long defensive rebound, finding a streaking Paul Johnson (Washington, DC/Gonzaga) for a fast-break layup. By the time the Explorers looked up, they were ahead 60-45 with under nine minutes to play.

La Salle made good use of the shot clock in closing out the Dukes, running it down to single digits and twice finding an open Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Francis) for a three-pointer.

For the fourth time this season, La Salle had five players score in double-figures. Smith led the Explorers with 21 points, 14 coming in the second half. Harris finished with 14 points and Thomas netted 12. Freshmen Marshall Taylor (Philadelphia, PA/West Catholic) and Johnson scored 10 points each.

Duquesne's Bryant McAllister led all scorers with 22 points. Aaron Jackson kicked in 16 points for the Dukes.

Over 1,700 students from 13 area elementary schools were in attendance for the Explorers first conference win.

La Salle hits the road for an A-10 matchup with Richmond on Saturday, Jan. 7. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.