Dec. 8, 2009
La Salle Explorers @ Rider Broncs
Date: Wednesday, December 9
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Alumni Gymnasium
Game: Non-conference
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La Salle Explorers (5-2)
Conference: Atlantic 10
The La Salle Explorers will carry their two-game winning streak into Alumni Gymnasium on Wednesday when they visit the Rider Broncs. The Explorers, who defeated the Broncs at home last season 92-75, lead the all-time series, 22-6.
After defeating Lafayette at home on Thursday, 79-67, La Salle wrapped up its two-game homestand on Sunday afternoon with a win over Hartford, 75-62. Senior Kimmani Barrett led four Explorers in double figures, ending with a career-high 25 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Barrett clinched another career-high on Sunday with five three-pointers made while grabbing four rebounds and distributing three assists. Rodney Green followed up with 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals and Aaric Murray added 12 points, four rebounds and two blocks.
The Explorers led 37-26 at the midway point and then increased their lead with a 15-4 run to open the second half, giving them a 23-point advantage. Senior Yves Mekongo rounded out all La Salle double-digit scorers with 10 points while also pulling down five boards.
The Explorers ended the contest shooting 45.5 percent from the field (20-for-44) and 52.4 percent from beyond the arc (11-for-21). They also outmatched Hartford under the glass, 43-24.
La Salle holds a +11.3 rebounding margin over its opponents this season.
Rider Broncs (6-3, 1-0 MAAC)
Conference: Metro Atlantic Athletic
Like the Explorers, the Rider Broncs carry over a winning streak (three games) into Wednesday’s meeting. After wins over Binghamton and Saint Joseph’s, the Broncs picked up their first conference victory of the season on Sunday when they defeated Marist at home, 55-51.
Justin Robinson led the team in scoring for the third time this season and the second straight contest with a game-high 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Novar Gadson racked up the only double-double in the game with 12 points and a game-high 13 boards. The Broncs struggled from three-point range (6-for-26) and were outscored in bench points (23-4), but their starting lineup proved too much for Marist as they scored 51 of the team’s 55 points.
Rider by no means has had an easy task so far this season. In its season opener, the Broncs outlasted their challenge with then-No. 18 ranked Mississippi State, defeating the Bulldogs, 88-74, on the road. After a home win against Lehigh to start the year 2-0, the Broncs competed in the Cancun Challenge where they were defeated by a tough ACC squad in the Virginia Cavaliers and No. 4 Kentucky. Since the Cancun Challenge, Rider has reeled off four wins in their last five games.
Eye on an Explorer: Steve Weingarten
Junior forward Steve Weingarten tied a career-high with seven points and grabbed a game and career-high eight rebounds in Sunday’s 79-67 win over Hartford. Dating back to Thursday’s home win over Lafayette, Weingarten scored six points and pulled down seven boards in 20 minutes off the bench. He has been a nice contributor for the Explorers this season whether he is coming off the bench or filling out the starting lineup.
Key Matchup: Aaric Murray vs. Novar Gadson
Novar Gadson has started all nine games for the Broncs this season. The sophomore guard is averaging 13 ppg while hauling down a team-best 7.7 boards per game. In the team’s season opener at Mississippi State, Gadson tallied 21 points to tie Mike Ringgold for a team-high and finished just three points short of his career-high. In the process, Gadson recorded his third career double-double with 11 rebounds.
For La Salle, freshman Aaric Murray’s abilities to block shots and rebound effectively have caused La Salle to be among the national leaders in rebounding on both ends of the floor. Through seven games, Murray has already compiled two double-doubles in his early collegiate career. In his last three games, Murray has seen his scoring totals reach double figures. Murray is currently ranked third on the team in scoring with 11.4 ppg and owns a team-best 7 rpg and 15 blocked shots.
