Dec. 31, 2008

Box Score | Photo Gallery

PHILADELPHIA - Three Explorers set career scoring highs as La Salle cruised past visiting Manhattan 89-64 in non-conference action on New Year's Eve. The Explorers close out 2008 with a 7-5 mark, the best record going into January since the team posted a 7-2 record heading into the 2006 calendar year.

The contest was never in doubt as the Explorers scored the first bucket and besides a 2-2 tie just over a minute in, never trailed the rest of the way. The Jaspers (7-5, 1-1 MAAC) edged within 19-16 on a Devon Austin 3-pointer at 11:01 before the Explorers went on a 23-5 run. Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) - who needs only 12 points to hit the 1,000-point plateau - scored 11 of his 18 points in that run.

The Explorers led 48-31 at the half and never relinquished the double digit lead in the second stanza.

Scoring was never an issue for the Explorers as the team shot a blistering 60.7 percent from the field, including an 18-for-26 showing in the first half. The Jaspers managed only 39.3 percent, but drained seven 3-pointers to the Explorers' three. The home team also drained 18 of 22 from the charity stripe while the Jaspers hit 13 of 21.

Ruben Guillandeaux (Brooklyn, NY/St. Patrick's) led the barrage of career highs with 22 points to best his 21 points at Massachusetts on Feb. 28, 2007. He also doubled his career mark in rebounds with eight and set a new mark by dishing out seven assists.

Vernon Goodridge (Brooklyn, NY/Mississippi State) bested his career scoring record by pouring in 15 points tonight. He broke his record of 12 points set against Connecticut in the Paradise Jam.

Terrell Williams (Paterson, NJ/Northfield Mount Hermon) also set his own mark with 14 points, with six of those coming in the final three minutes of the game. His previous mark was 12, set at Puerto Rico-Mayaguez on Dec. 19, 2007.

Darryl Partin (Seattle, WA/Charis Prep) and Steve Weingarten (Baltimore, MD/Catonsville/Conn. College) also saw significant time tonight. Partin's 22 minutes of play is a new career mark and Weingarten - who entered the game just over five minutes into play - saw 12 minutes of action in his second appearance this season. His prior appearance was in the Rider game on Dec. 17, when he played the last minute of the game.

The Explorers were forced to play without sophomore Jerrell Williams who had started all previous 11 games.  Williams strained his back during morning shooting around.  Also unavailable was senior captain Paul Johnson who suffered a concussion in practice on Tuesday.

Tonight's win also marks the first time since Feb. 6, 2008 that the Explorers won by more than 20 points, when they topped George Washington 80-53.  The 7-5 record is the first time that the Explorers are two games over .500 since opening the 2006-07 season 3-0 and their largest margin of victory over a division I opponent since a 26-point win over Morgan State that season.

The Explorers return home on Saturday (1/3) for a 2:00 PM contest against Howard.