Nov. 10, 2010
Columbia Lions at La Salle Explorers
Date: Friday, November 12
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Tom Gola Arena
Game: Non-Conference
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La Salle Explorers (0-0)
Conference: Atlantic 10
The La Salle Explorers begin its season at home on Friday against Columbia. All veterans and military personnel that show identification at the ticket office will be admitted for free in honor of Veterans Day.
This year, Ruben Guillandeaux returns to Tom Gola Arena after obtaining a medical hardship last season. He averaged 9.5 points per game in four contests while shooting 61.5% from three-point range.
In the front court, preseason All-Atlantic 10 third team pick Aaric Murray and Jerrell Williams are back. Senior Steve Weingarten and sophomore Devon White will also see extended minutes at the forward position.
The team has a new look this year as La Salle welcomes four freshman to the team, Tyreek Duren, Cole Stefan, Sam Mills, and Matt Lopez. Also new to the Explorers squad is sophomore guard Taylor Dunn who transferred from Winthrop this season. Junior Earl Pettis will be donning the Blue and Gold for the first time in a regular season game this weekend after transferring to La Salle from Rutgers University.
La Salle and Columbia have met twice, in 1968 and 1969. On March 9, 1968, the #8 Lions defeated La Salle, 83-69, in the NCAA Tournament in College Park, MD. It was Jim Harding's final game as the Explorers head coach. On December 30, 1969, the two teams met in the Quaker City Tournament at the Spectrum with La Salle winning, 89-74. With Tom Gola at the helm, Ken Durrett had 25 points and current Temple head coach Fran Dunphy had 24.
Columbia Lions (0-0)
Conference: The Ivy League
The Columbia Lions will enter Tom Gola Arena on Friday evening in hopes of spoiling the Explorers 2010-11 home opener. In 2009-10, Columbia finished with an 11-17 record, 5-9 in the Ivy League. This year, the Lions are projected to finish seventh in the Ivy League Preseason Poll. Columbia is returning a large number of players, including four seniors, this season. Eight of the players on the 2010-11 roster had started two or more games during the Lions 2009-10 campaign.
One of those returning seniors is Brian Grimes, who attended La Salle during his collegiate freshman year. Last year, Grimes started in 17 games, while playing in 24, averaging 7.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Friday will mark a homecoming for Grimes who grew up in the Philadelphia area. This will be his second return home since his move to Columbia, as he played Penn at the Palestra last season.
The Lions are going through a coaching transition this season as Friday will be Kyle Smith's first game as a head coach for Columbia. He has spent the past 18 season playing as an assistant coach at numerous schools including nine seasons at St. Mary's (Calif) and the Air Force Acadamy. Smith was a vital part of turning around the St. Mary's program and helping to lead them to a 28-6 record and into the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
Eye On An Explorer: Aaric Murray
A preseason third team All-Atlantic 10 selection, Murray is coming off a freshman year in which he earned Philadelphia Big 5 Rookie of the Year honors after scoring 12.2 points per game and pulling down 6.6 rebounds per game. He had 20 points and 11 rebounds in a 70-57 v­ictory over Philadelphia University on Sunday in exhibition play. Chad Ford of ESPN.com listed Murray as the fourth best NBA prospect in a non-BCS league. ESPN.com has him as the 33rd overall prospect in the class.
Key Matchup:Aaric Murray vs. Mark Cisco
This game will see a battle of two big men. Although the Lions' don't rely on a single center during any given game, Cisco saw play in all 28 games as a freshman, just as Murray did. Cisco averaged 13 minutes per game, while Murray averaged 27.5 minutes per game. Both big men had big impacts on their teams. Cisco finished second on the lions squad in offensive rebounds and blocked shots and led Columbia in field goal percentage with 56.2 percent. Murray finished second among the Explorers in rebounding and third in points per game. Additionally, Murray ranked second in the nation in blocks per game, with 2.3, among all freshmen.
