Dec. 31, 2008

 

La Salle vs Manhattan
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Tom Gola Arena
Game: Non-Conference

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La Salle Explorers (6-5, 0-0)
Conference: Atlantic 10
The La Salle Explorers look to round out 2008 with a victory as they get set to host the Manhattan Jaspers on New Years’ Eve at 4:00 PM. The Explorers have now won two of their last three contests and with only two non-conference games left, they look to finish strong. In their last win, a 65-59 decision over Mount St. Mary’s, junior Rodney Green led all scorers with 17 points, while dishing out a game-high tying four assists and pulling down six rebounds in 33 minutes. Green has either led or tied the team-high in points seven times this season and ranks first among Explorers in scoring at 14.6 points per game. In that victory, fellow junior Kimmani Barrett poured in 15 points, on 6-of-9 shooting, and attributed four boards. Junior Vernon Goodridge rounded out all Explorers in double figures with 10 points and rejected a game-high tying two blocks. Goodridge, who has now blocked a total 22 shots through 11 games, is averaging 7.3 points and 6.4 boards in 20.8 minutes per contest. Against the Mount, the Explorers had the upper hand in rebounds (45-30), second chance points (18-6) and fastbreak points (14-7).

Manhattan Jaspers (7-4, 1-1)
Conference: MAAC
The Manhattan Jaspers close out non-conference play on New Years’ Eve with a road match against the Explorers. Aside from their most recent loss to American, the biggest point differential in a Manhattan loss this season was four when the Jaspers fell to Hofstra at home on Nov. 29, 65-61. Manhattan kicked the season off with three straight victories and has now tallied three in their last four contests. In their last matchup, a 60-48 defeat to American, junior Jamel Ferguson was the only Jasper to reach double figures, ending with 11 points, on 4-of-7 shooting. Seven days prior, sophomore Chris Smith led with a team-high 20 points as Manhattan defeated Long Island, 65-61. In that victory, senior Devon Austin followed up with 12 points and five rebounds and junior Darryl Crawford was the third and final Jasper to score in double-digits, finishing with 10 points and a team-high five assists. Manhattan outrebounded Long Island, 37-36, and they also connected on nine triples as they went on to shoot 45 percent from beyond the arc.

Eye on an Explorer: Yves Mekongo Mbala
Junior Yves Mekongo Mbala has been a nice presence inside the paint for the Explorers this season. Mekongo Mbala has started in all 11 contests, and in 30.4 minutes per game, he is averaging 10.4 points and 6.7 rebounds. He has also extended his range to the perimeter as he has connected on eight three-pointers this season for a 25.8 shooting percentage from beyond the arc. Mekongo Mbala, who leads all Explorers in boards under the glass, has helped his team to a 7.5 rebounding margin over the opposition this season.

Key Matchup: Ruben Guillandeaux vs Chris Smith
Each of these teams are loaded with backcourt talent, but junior Ruben Guillandeaux and sophomore Chris Smith may be the two players who have the biggest impact for their respective teams in this game. Guillandeaux has been a solid sixth man this season who has provided depth off the bench. He is averaging 8.1 points per game and is shooting 35 percent from beyond the arc. For Manhattan, Smith has led the team in scoring six times, which included a season-high 35 points in a 70-60 home win over Princeton. Smith leads the team in scoring with 15.5 points per game and is shooting 36.2 percent from three.