Feb. 21, 2010

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Junior Steve Weingarten had a day to remember for La Salle, setting career-highs with 18 points and 17 rebounds, but St. Bonaventure proved to have too much firepower for the undermanned Explorers in a 77-66 Bonnies victory. Weingarten, the former walk-on transfer from Division III Connecticut College, led four La Salle players in double-figures.

Junior Jerrell Williams also hit the glass hard, with 14 boards, and chipped in with 13 points in 39 minutes. It marked the second time this season that the Explorers had two players record double-doubles, as Williams and freshman Aaric Murray did it at Villanova on November 28. Prior to the Villanova game, it wasn't since Feb. 25, 2004 that two Explorers had double-doubles in the same game.

Murray (13 points) and senior Rodney Green (11 points, seven assists) also reached double-figures despite struggling from the field. The duo combined for 10-for-39 shooting on the afternoon.

Murray blocked a career-high five shots and moved into a tie for second on the single-season rejection list with 65. Lionel Simmons also blocked 65 as a senior in 1989-90. He holds the record with 77 in 1987-88.

Green did join Donnie Carr as the only La Salle players to reach the top 10 in scoring and assists. He is ninth all-time in scoring with 1,830 points and is tenth in assists with 370.

But Weingarten was the story for the Explorers. His 17 rebounds are the most since Rasual Butler had 20 boards versus Morris Brown University on Nov. 18, 2002. He played all 40 minutes, diving on the floor for loose balls, flying into the SBU bench to save a ball from going out of bounds and picking up nine offensive rebounds.

St. Bonaventure (11-14, 4-8 A-10) was led by Andrew Nicholson, who had 24 points and eight rebounds. Chris Matthews added 21 and six assists. He also connected on a career-high seven three-pointers.

The Bonnies led 36-34 at the half and started the second stanza on a 9-0 run to take an 11-point lead. The Explorers would not get closer than five points the rest of the way.

La Salle (11-15, 3-9 A-10) had 51 rebounds, the second most in a single game this season, but shot just 44% (12-for-27) from the free throw line. The team also blocked eight shots and committed 12 turnovers, two short of a season low.

The Explorers visit George Washington on Wednesday at 7 PM.