AMHERST, MA - With a 65-44 win over Massachusetts, the La Salle Explorers (14-7, 6-4 Atlantic 10) guaranteed their first non-losing season in 12 years. La Salle used a series of scoring streaks to defeat UMass (10-10, 5-5) and ensure that they will finish .500 or better for the first time since the 1992-93.

 

The Explorers saw four players score in double figures and spent most of the second half without the services of senior Steven Smith (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast), who was whistled for his fourth foul with over 14 minutes left to play.

 

After falling behind by six points early in a sloppy first half, La Salle used a 13-0 run to take the lead. The run featured a quick stretch of a Smith follow dunk, then a Smith three-pointer followed by a Paul Johnson (Washington, DC/Gonzaga) fast-break dunk off a steal. The Minutemen ended their scoring drought with a Brandon Thomas three, but by halftime La Salle led 27-22 on the strength of an 18-6 run.

 

The Explorers came out breathing fire in the second half, rattling off 10 straight points, including three-straight Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Francis) trifectas. The sophomore finished with a team-high 14 points and nine rebounds. La Salle saw its second overwhelming run reach 17-6 before Umass came back to life. After hitting six consecutive free throws, the Minutemen's James Life unleashed three straight three-pointers to cut the La Salle lead to 46-41. Life scored 15 consecutive points in that span and finished with 18 after hitting another trey, his team's only other basket of the half.

 

After Life cooled off and missed his second consecutive three-point attempt, the ball appeared headed out of bounds when teammate Rashaun Freeman dove into the crowd to save the rebound. The ball found La Salle senior Jermaine Thomas (Frederick, MD/Thomas Johnson), who passed the ball to Smith volleyball-style for a layup.

 

Smith finished with 10 points in just 27 minutes, while Thomas added 12 points. Junior Mike St. John (Northboro, MA/River School), playing in front of a hometown crowd, scored 13 points, including three three-pointers, which tied a career-high.

 

The Explorers handed the Minutemen their first home loss of the season, ending a string of 12 straight wins at the Mullins Center.