Feb. 21, 2008
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PHILADELPHIA, PA -In an Atlantic 10 overtime battle, the La Salle University Explorers (12-13, 6-5 A-10) won their third game in a row 81-78 over the visiting University of Dayton Flyers (17-8, 5-7 A-10). Senior Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/ St. Frances Academy) tied his career three-pointers made record with eight (8-15), finishing with a team-high 26 points.
Harris started things off by hitting his first three-point attempt of the night, and junior Paul Johnson (Washington D.C./Gonzaga) hit both free throws to give the Explorers a 5-0 lead. Johnson finished with a double- double (11/11).
The Flyers got on the board four minutes in with two consecutive lay-ups by sophomore London Warren.
Sophomore Yves Mekongo Mbala (Elizabeth, NJ/ St. Patrick's) drained a three to up the Explorer ante, but UD came charging back to tie it 14-14 at 7:24.
La Salle reclaimed the lead (15-14) with a made free throw by sophomore Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/ Prep Charter)- but the Flyers strung together an 18-3 run to close out the half up 30-21.
The Flyers accounted for ten first half points off turnovers- 11 of which the Explorers committed in the first half alone. The Explorers shot just 38% from the field in the first half, and 44.8% for the game. La Salle also committed 17 turnovers.
Harris again hit a three to open up the second half for the Explorers and get them within five, but UD senior Brian Roberts nailed his fourth three of the night, as the Flyers took their biggest lead of the contest up 11 at 16:32. Roberts had a game-high 30 points
Green converted on a three-point play to cut the UD lead to 57-54 at 8:39. Sophomore Kimmani Barrett (Paterson, NJ/ Paterson Catholic) put the Explorers within one at 7:15, but the Flyers led 63-58 with five minutes to go.
Down 65-60 with two minutes to go, a Green steal and lay-up cut the UD lead to three.
Senior Sherman Diaz (Diego Martin, Trinidad & Tobago/ Life Center) nailed a three to tie it at 65 with six seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.
Harris made a three to start the extra period, but UD's Roberts matched that to keep it tied at 68. Green gave La Salle their first lead hitting two free-throws 70-68. UD answered with a trey, but La Salle's Johnson came right back with a trey of his own.
The Flyers took a 78-75 lead as Roberts aced a three with 52.8 seconds, but Harris hit a three well beyond the arc to cut it to two. The senior hit another three with 13.5 seconds to give the Explorers a 79-78 lead. Mekongo Mbala hit two free-throws down the stretch to make it 81-78 and a last minute three attempt would not fall for the Flyers as La Salle pulled out the A-10 victory.
The Explorers will hit the road to take on the Duquesne Dukes on Sunday, February 24th at 2:00 PM. The game will be broadcast on AM 1340 and available via CSTV All-Access on www.goexplorers.com.
