March 7, 2009

Box Score

2009 Atlantic 10 Championship Bracket

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Rodney Green scored 24 points on 10-of-11 shooting from the free throw line to help lift La Salle past Saint Louis 68-62 at Chaifetz Arena on Saturday night.

The win, combined with a Xavier loss at Richmond, gives the Explorers a tie for fifth in the A-10 but seals up the eight seed in next week's Atlantic 10 Championship. The Explorers (18-12, 9-7) will once again face Saint Louis (17-13, 8-8), who earned the nine seed, in the opening game at noon on Wednesday in Atlantic City.

After trailing 30-28 at the half, the Explorers took the lead for good with 9:38 remaining in the game on a Ruben Guillandeaux layup.

The Explorers pushed the lead to as many as 10 with 2:36 to go but the Billikens pulled within three at 64-61 on Kevin Lisch's trey and layup. Green hit both free throws on the ensuing possession and Billiken foul to push the lead back to five and seal the game.

The Billikens took an early 22-8 lead at the 10:58 mark of the first half, but the Explorers battled back to make it a two-point game at the half.

Vernon Goodridge and Darryl Partin each chipped in 13 apiece, with Goodridge adding a game-high eight rebounds and two blocks.

The Explorers were only the second Atlantic 10 team to win at Chaifetz Arena this season. The Billikens had not lost a home game since Richmond topped them 70-62 on Jan. 25th. The Billikens finish the regular season at 14-3 overall on their home court.