PHILADELPHIA, PA- Led by perfect three-point shooting (7-7) from senior Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/ St. Frances Academy) who tied the national record for three-point percentage in a game this season 7-7 (100%)- the La Salle Explorers (8-11, 3-3 A-10) knocked off the Saint Bonaventure Bonnies (6-14, 0-7 A-10) 84-61 to get back at the .500 mark in Atlantic 10 play. Harris finished with a game-high 23 points.
The Explorers ended the game with a season-high 16 three-pointers - two shy of the team single-game record of 18 (set twice between 1990 and 1991) - as Harris hit five treys for 15 points in the first five minutes to put the Explorers up 18-8. Five Explorers would hit a total of six three-pointers in the first 10 minutes of play. It wasn't until freshman Jerrell Williams (Paterson, NJ/Northfield Mount Hermon) sunk a free throw at 11:11 that the Explorers scored their first point of the game inside the arc and took a commanding 28-16 lead.
Harris hit another three to keep up the Explorers' frantic pace at 33-23, but the Bonnie's Michael Lee hit a bank shot to keep Bonaventure within 10. Sophomore Yves Mekongo Mbala (Elizabeth, NJ/St. Patrick's) sunk both free throws to push the La Salle lead to 40-27 and spark a La Salle run as senior Sherman Diaz (Diego Martin/Life Center) hit a long three, and sophomore Kimmani Barrett (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic) sprinted down court to make a break-away lay-up, assisted by freshman Darryl Partin (Seattle, WA/Charis Prep).
Harris hit his seventh three of the game at the buzzer to send La Salle into the locker room up 50-33, their biggest lead of the first half. The Explorers shot 62% from beyond the arc in the first stanza, and finished the night shooting 57.1% from long range.
Sophomore Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) opened up the second half with a quick jumper; he had 11 points and dished out eight assists on the night. Bonaventure's Michael Lee hit a jumper at the 13:00 mark, but the La Salle offensive only pushed harder as Barrett slammed the ball on a breakaway for two more to go up 66-42. La Salle's largest lead of the game came at the 11:04 mark by 26 points at 69-43 .
Paul Johnson laid down a monster dunk off an assist from Green at 9:00 to put the Explorers up 74-48. Johnson finished with 16 points on the night, 3-4 from beyond the arc. He also had seven rebounds, shot 6-8 from the field took two charges an assist and two steals.
The Bonnie's Lee led his squad with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Tyler Relph had 13 for Bonaventure.
Harris' performance is also a La Salle single-game best for three-point percentage - tying Victor Thomas' 6-6 effort against Duquesne in 1999.
Harris' seven makes was two shy of the La Salle single-game record for three-pointers set by Kareem Townes in his 52-point explosion against Loyola (Chicago) on February 4, 1995.
The Explorers head to Xavier to take on the Musketeers next in A-10 action on Saturday, February 2nd at 7:00 PM.
