Feb. 3, 2009
La Salle Explorers vs. Dayton Flyers
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Tom Gola Arena
Game: Conference
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La Salle Explorers (12-8, 3-3)
Conference: Atlantic 10
The La Salle Explorers return home as they prepare to host the Dayton Flyers on Wednesday after falling to Rhode Island in a 98-88 overtime loss on Saturday. After trailing by 11 points at the midway point, the Explorers rallied in the second half. With 22 seconds remaining in regulation, a three-point bucket from junior Kimmani Barrett, which capped off an 11-0 run, evened the score at 80 and sent the game into overtime. Barrett drained 12 points on Saturday and was one of six Explorers to rack up double-digits in the scoring category. He was joined by juniors Ruben Guillandeaux (15) Yves Mekongo Mbala (14) and Vernon Goodridge (11) and sophomore Jerrell Williams (12). Junior Rodney Green, who scored a team-high 22 points on 7-of-15 shooting, marked his eighth game this season and fourth consecutive in which he has dropped 20 or more points. The Explorers outrebounded the Rams, 34-29, and also led in field goal, three-point field goal and free throw percentages. The Explorers held Rhode Island senior Jimmy Baron, who averages a team-best 16.4 points per game, to a season-low six points. The matchup last season between the Explorers and Flyers extended to overtime after a last second trey from Sherman Diaz. The Explorers took the lead in overtime and prevailed with a final score of 81-78. In the win, Green totaled 17 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks and then-junior Paul Johnson was the only participant to record a double-double, ending with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. The win provided the Explorers with their third consecutive win which eventually extended to five straight in the closing moments of the season. La Salle is hoping to overtake the Atlantic 10's second-best team yet again when they meet the Flyers on Wednesday.
Dayton Flyers (20-2, 6-1)
Conference: Atlantic 10
The Dayton Flyers are hoping to extend their six-game winning streak as they enter Tom Gola Arena Wednesday to play the Explorers. Dayton handed the Saint Joseph's Hawks a 69-58 loss on Sunday, ending the Hawks’ seven-game winning streak. The victory, which was Dayton’s 16th consecutive win at the University of Dayton Arena, secured the team a place in the record books: this UD squad has been the quickest in Dayton history to reach 20 wins in one season. The Flyers spread out their offense, in Sunday’s win over the Hawks, with three players scoring in double-digits. Sophomore Chris Wright tied a game-high with 14 points, while senior Charles Little and junior Marcus Johnson racked up 13 points each. Defensively, the Flyers held Saint Joe’s senior Ahmad Nivins, who entered the contest averaging 20.2 points per game, to a season-low 12 points. Even so, Nivins was able to attain his 13th double-double of the season, tallying a game-high 13 rebounds. In the second half, the Flyers held the Hawks to 28.0 percent field goal shooting and 14.3 percent three-point shooting. Three lead changes occurred during the first half, but the Hawks were unable to recover after a 13-2 Dayton run led to a 37-31 SJU deficit at halftime. Dayton, who landed just outside the national Top 25 polls on Monday, is ranked second in the Atlantic 10 standings and is the only team in the conference with 20 wins on the season.
Eye on an Explorer: Rodney Green
Junior Rodney Green, who has started every game this season and leads the team in playing minutes at 34.9 per game, has been an instrumental part in the Explorers’ success this season. Green leads the Explorers in multiple categories, including points per game (16.8), assists per game (3.6) and steals per game (1.9). Aside from cutting to the lane and creating easy baskets, Green has found success from beyond the arc. He is shooting 37.8 percent from three-point range, which is tied for first on the team with classmate Ruben Guillandeaux. Green accounted for 22 of La Salle's 88 points against the Rams on Saturday. This performance was the fourth consecutive game, and eighth of the year, in which Green has tallied 20 or more points for the Explorers. In the past four games, Green's 20 or more points have led to three wins. When Dayton enters Tom Gola Arena Wednesday, the Explorers are hoping that Green will provide another spectacular performance to help lift La Salle to a second consecutive win over the Dayton Flyers.
Key Matchup: Yves Mekongo Mbala vs. Chris Wright
La Salle junior Yves Mekongo Mbala is emerging as a major factor for the Explorers this season. After starting 28 of 30 games and recording an average of 25.5 minutes per game as a sophomore, Mekongo Mbala has improved on his success from last season with his accomplishments this year. He is first on the team in free throw percentage (.780) and rebounds per game (6.6), second in minutes per game (32.0) and third among his teammates in scoring (11.5), three-pointers made (21), total assists (37) and blocks (10). For the Flyers, sophomore Chris Wright has started 21 of Dayton's 22 games this season and is leading his team in numerous categories, including points per game (12.9), rebounds per game (6.9) and blocked shots (26). He is ranked second on the squad with 20 total steals and third in field goal percentage (.488). The battle between Mekongo Mbala and Wright will be an anticipated one with both players crashing the boards all night.
