Nov. 29, 2010

Box Score |  Photo Gallery 

PHILADELPHIA - Senior Ruben Guillandeaux drained a three-pointer with just over a minute to play to give La Salle its first lead of the game over Delaware State and the Explorers hung on for the 65-61 victory on Monday evening at Tom Gola Arena.

"It's the best look I got all night and ironically it was late in the game, but I'll take it," said Guillandeaux, who notched a team-high 12 points, of the shot.  "I love these moments. It doesn't get me nervous or anything."

The Explorers trailed by as many as 14 in the second half after Terron Stowe hit a jumper for the Hornets at the 17:18 mark.

La Salle gained some late-game momentum after a pair of layups by Aaric Murray made the score 59-61 with 4:40 to go in the contest.

The next nearly four minutes would be scoreless.  Junior Earl Pettis put up a short jumper with 1:12 left to play, but had it blocked by Delaware State's Oliver Marques.

Pettis grabbed the rebound and kicked it out to Guillandeaux who was waiting out on the arc.  His trey gave the Explorers a 62-61 edge.

On the other end of the court, freshman Tyrek Duren stole the ball from Oliver, who committed the foul with :31 remaining.  Duren would sink the pair of free throws, as well as one more, to ice the game for La Salle, which improves to 5-2 on the season.

The Hornets went cold to close out the game and didn't hit a field goal for the last 9:17 of play.

"This was one of most gratifying wins I've ever had because it seemed like things weren't going our way," head coach Dr. John Giannini said.  "To our players' credit, they didn't quit. They didn't get flustered. They hung in there."

Five Explorers reached double figures, as the Explorers got 15 points off the bench.  Ten of Guillandeaux's 12 points came in the second half. Steve Weingarten tallied 11, while Murray, Pettis and Williams all contributed ten points.

Delaware State was paced by freshman Desi Washington, who tallied a game-high 17 points while going six-for-eight from the field, including five-for-six from beyond the arc.

In the first half La Salle shot 14-for-19 from the field, but struggled on the boards and was outrebounded 7-2 by the Hornets in first part of the opening period.

The Hornets, in contrast, grabbed seven offensive rebounds for a total of 10 rebounds in the first half.  The Hornets were hot from distance, sinking five of their first six three point attempts and seven total in the first half.

Casey Walker sunk a three to give Delaware State a 39-31 advantage at the break.

"We didn't follow the scouting report [in the first half]," Guillandeaux said. "We had to set the tone in the second half by not allowing them to make the threes."

The Explorers will next host Oklahoma State at the Palestra on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.