Jan. 27, 2009
La Salle Explorers vs. George Washington Colonials
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Tom Gola Arena
Game: Conference
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La Salle Explorers (11-7, 2-2)
Conference: Atlantic 10
After picking up a quality win at UMass on Saturday, the La Salle Explorers return home to face the George Washington Colonials on Wednesday. The Explorers return home to Tom Gola Arena on a two-game winning streak, as they have won seven of their last nine games and have been nearly unbeatable on their home floor winning five of their last six. In Saturday's victory over the Minutemen, junior Rodney Green scored a game-high 22 points, on 9-of-19 shooting. Fellow junior Kimmani Barrett followed up with 11 points and juniors Yves Mekongo Mbala and Ruben Guillandeaux both chipped in with nine points apiece. Mekongo Mbala was a dominant force under the glass, as he ripped down a team-high ten boards, finishing just short of a double-double. Since La Salle's loss to Temple, he has recently emerged as an offensive threat in addition to his stellar defensive play. In the four games since the Temple loss, Mekongo Mbala has recorded 12 points per game to put his season average at 10.5 ppg, which ranks him third on the team. It is important to note that when Mekongo Mbala and Green score in double figures, the Explorers are 7-1 this season with the only loss coming at the hands of No. 2 UConn. Last season, the Explorers defeated the Colonials, 80-58, in the nation's capital and the 22-point deficit was the largest margin of victory in conference play for the Explorers last season. Wednesday night's matchup will be the first of two meetings in a two-week period between these Atlantic 10 rivals. Following their win on Saturday, the Explorers will look to roll the momentum into their game against GW as they look to make a surge in the Atlantic 10 standings.
George Washington Colonials (6-11, 0-5)
Conference: Atlantic 10
Before the Colonials face the La Salle Explorers at home on February 11th, they will take a road trip up I-95 north into Philadelphia on Wednesday for the first game of a home-and-home split. Although GW started the season off with a commanding 6-2 record, they have gone winless since their last victory which occurred back on December 23rd at Sacramento State. On Saturday against the Rhode Island Rams, the Colonials led 37-30 at the break, but Rhode Island managed to outscore George Washington, 38-31, in the second half which eventually forced overtime. The Colonials looked as if they were going to capture their first win of the new year when they led by five points to begin the extra session, but the Rams stampeded their way back into the contest to force their second multi-overtime game of the season. After GW tied the game with 1:22 in the second overtime, the Rams went on an 8-3 run and won the game, 94-89. Five Colonials managed to reach double figures with senior Rob Diggs, the team's scoring, rebounding, block and steal leader (12.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 29 blk, 11 stl), tying a team-high with 20 points. Senior Noel Wilmore, who also scored 20 in the loss, came off the bench and went 5-for-7 from the floor and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. The Colonials, who have yet to win a conference game this season, will look to claim their 17th victory in 25 opportunities against the Explorers on Wednesday.
Eye on an Explorer: Rodney Green
In the team's past two games, junior Rodney Green has had a solid grip on the basketball. Green, who has averaged 24 points per game in the last two contests, set a career-high 26 points against Penn last week. In the team's latest task, Green followed up his career night with a game-high 22 points in a road win over UMass on Saturday. Through 18 games, Green leads the team in scoring (16.3 ppg) and in assists with 59.
Key Matchup: Kimmani Barrett vs. Damian Hollis
In conference play this season, La Salle junior Kimmani Barrett (12.4 ppg) has put up 10 ppg, while GW junior Damian Hollis (11.8 ppg) has tallied 11.3 ppg in four of the Colonials' five conference games. These two junior forwards are currently ranked second on their respective teams in scoring and have been an asset to their offense when their contributions are combined with their guards. Barrett goes into Wednesday's game coming off two straight starts that have resulted in double figure performances. Over the course of those last two games, the Explorers are 2-0. Hollis, who scored 18 points in the upsetting double-overtime home loss to Rhode Island on Saturday, has either led or tied the team-high in scoring three times this season and has also either led or tied the team-high in rebounds five times.
