Nov. 18, 2010
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PHILADELPHIA - Behind a career-high tying 21 points and 14 rebounds from senior Jerrell Williams, the Explorers defeated Prairie View A&M, 88-74, in the Cancun Challenge opener for both teams.
Williams was one of three La Salle players to hit double figures. Senior Ruben Guillandeaux posted 17 points while Aaric Murray notched 19 points and added six rebounds, despite seeing limited action in the first half while in foul trouble.
For Prairie View, Trant Simpson notched a game-high 23 points on .500 shooting from the field.
"I'm really happy we played against Trent because he made us a better team tonight," head coach Dr. John Giannini said. "He taught us to work a little harder."
La Salle took a 39-35 lead into the break and extended it to 43-35 to open the second half after a pair of lay ups by Murray and Williams.
The Panthers cut the lead to three on a 5-0 run, but that was the closest they would get for the remainder of the contest.
Sam Mills hit a three to extend the Explorers' lead to 57-46 with just over thirteen and a half minutes left to play in the game. Gulliandeaux hit a pair of free throws to push La Salle's lead to thirteen as the Explorers began to pull away.
Tyreek Duren gave the Explorers an 18-point lead at 75-57 with 8:30 left to play in the game and then Murray extended that lead to 20 after a layup in transition.
The Explorers led by as many as seven points in the first half. The Panthers' Jeff Wherry cut the score to 25-21 after he sunk a three off an inbounds pass.
Gulliandeaux, who started the night off hot with eight points in the first two minutes of the game, responded with a three of his own to keep the Explorers' lead at seven.
Chapman cut the lead to 33-32 with two minutes to go in the half after finishing a three point play. Prairie View would again be within one at 35-34 after a jumper by Simpson, but the Panthers were unable to gain the edge.
Both teams struggled from the charity stripe in the first half, each shooting under .500.
Murray went 11-for-11 from the free throw line, the first time an Explorer has shot 100% on at least eight attempts since 2/11/09 when Rodney Green went 8-for-8 at George Washington.
The Cancun Challenge will continue on Saturday when La Salle hosts Morgan State in a 3 p.m. match up, which is also the University's Homecoming. Play resumes in Mexico on November 23-24 with La Salle playing against Providence and then either Missouri or Wyoming.
