Jan. 7, 2010

Box Score | Photo Gallery

PHILADELPHIA - La Salle rallied from a 20-point deficit in the second half to tie the score on three different occasions in the closing minutes but was unable to take the lead in a 68-62 loss to Xavier on Thursday night at Tom Gola Arena. Senior Rodney Green led the Explorers with 20 points, with 16 coming after intermission. It is his A-10 leading eighth 20-point contest of the season.

Trailing 54-34 with 13:10 remaining, La Salle responded with a 22-2 run over the next nine minutes to tie the game. Back-to-back dunks by freshman big-men Aaric Murray and Devon White kick started the rally and had Green had eight points, including a lay-up the knotted things up at 56-56 with 4:04 to play.

Green and Xavier's Jordan Crawford traded baskets over the next minute but a three by Dante Jackson gave the visitors the lead for good with 2:18 left. The loss was the fourth straight for La Salle, which drops to 7-7 (0-1 A-10).

Seniors Kimmani Barrett and Yves Mekongo had 11 and 10 points, respectively. White had his best game as a collegian in his first start, setting career bests in minutes (25), points (six) and rebounds (five). He also had four of the team's 12 blocked shots.

Crawford led all scorers with 22 points. Philadelphia native Jason Love added 11 points and eight rebounds, while Terrell Holloway dished a game-high eight assists.

The hosts barely lost the rebounding battle, 41-40, and committed 12 turnovers, four under their season average. But in the end, Xavier (9-5, 1-0 A-10) proved to be too much in the final 2:18, going on an 8-2 run to finish the game.

The Explorers travel to Massachusetts on Sunday at 2 PM. The game will be played at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.