Jan. 28, 2009

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-from AP reports and La Salle Athletic Communications

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Yves Mekongo Mbala (Elizabeth, NJ/St. Patrick's) scored 22 of his career-high 26 points in the first half, Rodney Green (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) had 20 points and eight assists, and La Salle won its third straight game, 76-66 over George Washington on Wednesday night.

Ruben Guillandeaux (Brooklyn, NY/St. Patrick's) scored 14 points, Paul Johnson (Washington, DC/Gonzaga) had 13 and Vernon Goodridge (Brooklyn, NY/Mississippi State) grabbed a career-best 11 rebounds for the Explorers (12-7, 3-2 Atlantic 10).

Mekongo Mbala's 22 points at halftime is the most by a La Salle player since Steve Smith scored 23 in the first half of an 84-63 loss at Cincinnati on Dec. 22, 2004. Smith finished that game with 35 points.

Tonight also marked the first time since Jan. 18, 2007, that two Explorers scored at least 20 points. Green (22) and Darnell Harris (32) accomplished the feat in the 93-92 loss to Penn at Gola Arena.

Noel Wilmore scored 16 points, Rob Diggs 11 and Travis King 10 for the Colonials (6-12, 0-6), who lost their 10th in a row. George Washington hasn't won since Dec. 23, a 59-47 victory at Sacramento State.

George Washington also matched its longest losing streak since the 2001-02 season and remains the only team without a victory in the 14-team conference.

La Salle trailed 58-57 after a 3-pointer by Wilmore with 5:57 remaining. Consecutive 3-pointers from Guillandeaux and Green put the Explorers ahead 63-28 at 4:34 and in control of a contest that featured 21 lead changes.

George Washington never got closer than four points the rest of the way.

Free throws also made the difference down the stretch as the Explorers hit 16 of 21 in the second half to the Colonials' 10 of 16.

The contest opened with four straight Colonial points before Mekongo Mbala nailed a trey at 17:23. Neither team could pull away by more than four points until the Explorers took a 5-point 36-31 lead into the break.

The Colonials were aided by a 5-for-9 showing from beyond the arc in the first half. They finished the game 8-for-16 from 3-point range.