Nov. 13, 2007

Final Stats

PHILADELPHIA, PA -­ ­­ Sophomore guard Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) scored 19 points but it would not be enough as the La Salle University Explorers (0-1) watched a halftime lead quickly slip away in a 76-69 Tuesday night defeat to Maryland - Baltimore County (2-0) at Tom Gola Arena.

The Explorers started off with a 10-2 run in the first half, highlighted by back-t0-back three-pointers by senior guard Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances), who finished the night with 18 points.  La Salle never fell behind in the first half but when UMBC's senior guard Brian Hodges hit three free throws in a row at the 9:41 mark the Retrievers pulled even.  Hodges would go on to knock down 22 points on the night. 

The Retrievers would convert 13 points off of turnovers in the first half to keep it close, but Harris's 10 first-half points kept the Explorers on top with a halftime lead of 32-28.

UMBC's junior forward Darryl Proctor sank 12 of his game-high 23 points in the second half, including a jumper at 17:23 to go up 35-32 and give the Retrievers their first lead of the game.   Proctor also had 10 rebounds.

They would not trail again.

The UMBC defense dealt a stifling blow to the Explorers in the second period by holding
La Salle to 36% field goal shooting.  Freshman forward Jerrell Williams (Paterson, NJ/Northfield Mount Hermon) hit two free throws with just over five minutes to go to cut the Retriever lead to 55-49, but UMBC went on a 7-0 scoring spree late in the second that widened the gap to 62-49 with three minutes remaining. 

The Explorers put together a small run of their own late in the game with two steals and quick three-pointers which cut the lead to five points, at 74-69 but UMBC held on for their second straight victory at Gola Arena.

The Explorers return to action Saturday when they travel to Mount Saint Mary's to battle the Mounts at 7:00 PM at Knott Arena.