Junior Darnell Harris (left) trades notes with freshman Ruben Guillandeaux

Paul Johnson was one of five Explorers with 10 or more points

Brad Cohen scored in his first appearance of the season

Mike St. John deals five more assists

Rodney Green doing what he does best

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Five Explorers reached double-figures in scoring as the La Salle University (6-2) Explorers trounced Morgan State (2-7) by a score of 102-76 on Wednesday night at Tom Gola Arena.

Freshman Kimmani Barrett (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic) led the way with a career-high 18 points and six rebounds.  Fellow frosh Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) and Yves Mekongo Mbala (Elizabeth, NJ/St. Patrick's) combined for 26 more points for the Explorers who never trailed in the game and were last tied at 2-2 with 17.36 to play. 

Green stayed on pace with a 6 for 9 shooting night.  He entered the game 11th in the nation with a 66.2% field goal percentage.

At the 16.34 mark Xavier transfer Boubacar Coly converted a lay-up to draw the Bears within 8-4 but the Explorers ran off a 23-6 run to pull away and stay out in front.

Also reaching double-figures in scoring were junior Sherman Diaz (Diego Martin, Trinidad & Tobago/Life Center - Burlington, NJ) who scored 14 points and sophomore Paul Johnson (Washington, DC/Gonzaga) who had 11 points.

All eleven Explorers, including sophomore walk-on Brad Cohen (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) scored in the game.

Adding to his team-leading assist total was the surprising Mike St. John (Northboro, MA/River School) who scored seven points and pulled five rebounds but dealt five more assists to bring his season total to 25.  Including Saturday's 10-assist performance at Central Connecticut State, St. John is now averaging 3.1 helpers a game.

The Explorers topped the 100-point mark for the first time since a 107-106 four-overtime win at Central Connecticut State in 2005.  It was, however, their first time over the century mark in a regulation game since hanging a 109-93 win on Tennessee Tech in the Hilo Classic at Hawaii-Hilo on December 29, 1993.

The Explorers are now 14-4 in the months of November and December in the last two seasons.

For the second straight game the Explorers held the opponent to under 45% shooting as the Bears went 27-68 (39.7%) from the field. 

The 26-point win was the Explorers' largest margin of victory since an 85-55 defeat of St. Francis (PA) on 12/28/05. 

The Explorers will next face Villanova in their first Big 5 match-up of the season and the Wildcats first-ever appearance at Tom Gola Arena on Saturday, December 23.  Tip-off will take plave at 4:00 PM and will air live on Comcast SportsNet.