Dec. 2, 2009
La Salle Explorers vs. Lafayette Leopards
Date: Thursday, December 3
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Tom Gola Arena
Game: Non-Conference
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La Salle Explorers (3-2, 0-0 A-10; 0-1 Big 5)
Conference: Atlantic 10
After an 81-63 loss to then No. 4 Villanova on Saturday, the La Salle Explorers return to Tom Gola Arena to host Lafayette on Thursday evening. The Explorers, who followed up their first loss on the season with two straight wins, look to rebound with a victory in Thursday’s meeting.
Despite the loss on Saturday, the Explorers featured the only two participants in the contest to record a double-double. Jerrell Williams posted 15 points and a game-high 16 rebounds and freshman Aaric Murray nearly matched Williams’ production with 15 points and 14 boards. Williams’ 16 rebounds marked the most by an Explorer since Rasual Butler’s 20 back on Nov. 18, 2002 against Morris Brown University. La Salle’s intensity under the glass provided the Explorers with the rebounding advantage on Saturday, 51-34.
This will be the 44th meeting all-time between the two schools with the Explorers holding a 32-11 record over the Leopards. Even though the Explorers have the upperhand over Lafayette, they lost the last meeting back in 2004, 83-63.
Through five games this season, the Explorers are shooting 41.4 percent from beyond the arc and outrebounding their opponents by a +8.8 margin.
Lafayette Leopards (4-3, 0-0 Patriot League)
Conference: Patriot League
The Lafayette Leopards head into Tom Gola Arena on Thursday having dropped two games in a row with the most recent one coming on Monday night to Saint Peter’s, 58-56. In that loss, Lafayette was outrebounded 41-31 and 18-10 on the offensive glass.
Michael Gruner connected on three straight free throws to tie the game at 56 with 28 seconds remaining in regulation. After a SPC timeout was called with six seconds left, Ryan Willen fouled Wesley Jenkins who hit two free throws to give the Peacocks the win, 58-56.
Jeff Kari led all scorers in the game with 18 points on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc. Jared Mintz, who leads the team in scoring (16.3 ppg) and rebounding (6.4 rpg), was held to only five points and five rebounds in Monday’s loss. As a team, Lafayette shot 37.5 percent from the floor and 37 percent from three-point range.
Eye on an Explorer: Kimmani Barrett
Senior forward Kimmani Barrett has shown solid improvement in his game this offseason and so far this year. Barrett led all scorers in Saturday’s loss to Villanova with 17 points including two steals and one block. He has averaged 14.7 points per game in the last three contests.
Barrett looks to keep his hot streak going heading into Thursday night. He has paced the team well recently and has been very consistent on the floor. He is first on the team in field goal shooting (.525) and second in scoring (11.4).
Key Matchup: Rodney Green vs. Jim Mower
La Salle senior guard Rodney Green was averaging 20 ppg. before being held to just seven points against Villanova on Saturday. Green is now 17 points shy of becoming the Explorers’ 19th all-time leading scorer. He has led the team in scoring in three of the five games played this season.
Green will be challenged largely by Lafayette sophomore guard Jim Mower. Mower has been an improving player scoring in double-digits in his last four games while averaging 12.5 ppg. in those contests. Mower found himself in a good deal of foul trouble against St. Peter’s, but was still able to put up 11 points.
