Feb. 9, 2008
PHILADELPHIA, PA- The La Salle Explorers (9-13, 4-5 A-10) lost 101-84 at home to the Duquesne Dukes (15-7, 5-4 A-10) on Saturday afternoon at Tom Gola Arena.
The Explorers were led by sophomore Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/ Prep Charter) who had 24 points on the day. Three other Explorers scored in double-digits in the loss.
Junior Paul Johnson (Washington, D.C./Gonzaga) put up an easy lay-up to get La Salle on the board first, but a Duquesne three-pointer triggered an 8-0 Duquesne run to go up 10-2 with 16:30 left in the half.
DU's Shawn James turned the ball over at the 15:00 mark and gave the Explorers a chance for a score, but a failed effort led to the Dukes' fast-break lay-up for a 14-4 lead.
The Explorers bounced back as freshman Jerrell Williams (Paterson, NJ/ Northfield Mount Hermon) scored on a drive and got fouled. He hit the ensuing free throw for a three-point play and Johnson drained two more free throws to get the Explorers within 10 (20-10).
Sophomore Kimmani Barrett (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic) knocked down two free throws to cut the gap to just four, 22-18 with eight minutes to go in the first. Freshman Darryl Partin (Seattle, WA/Charis Prep) chipped in two and Johnson made a triple to cut the lead to 30-27. The Dukes came right back with a three of their own stay ahead.
Jerrell Williams laid in a turn-around jumper with less than three minutes to tie it up at 35 all, but DU knocked down another three to keep the Dukes on top. Senior Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances Academy) got his first points of the game with less then 30 seconds left in the first half with two free throws.
The Explorers would rally back from second half deficits of 16 and 13 points but unusually stellar three-point shooting from the Dukes provided an answer to each La Salle run.
The Dukes went on an 18-10 run to close out regulation. Harris and Johnson each had 14 points for the Explorers, while Jerrell Williams had 11 points and nine rebounds.
Next up the Explorers will host New Jersey Institute of Technology on Wednesday, February 13th at 7:00 PM.
