March 6, 2010

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PHILADELPHIA - Senior Kimmani Barrett returned to the lineup for the first time since January 10 and led the Explorers with 15 points but La Salle dropped a 74-59 decision to Saint Joseph's on Saturday at Hagan Arena. Classmate Rodney Green added 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Barrett hit five three's in his first action in nearly two months after injuring his foot and joined Yves Mekongo (eight points) in the starting lineup. Mekongo had not played since February 6 with a fractured pinky finger in his left hand.

The duo's return wasn't enough to overcome a SJU team that honored three players on "Senior Day." Garrett Williamson led all scorers with 18 points, including 10-for-10 from the foul line, and Darrin Goves had 17 points. Freshman Carl Jones added 16 points off the bench.

La Salle fell behind by eight points midway through the first half, but cut the deficit to one with a 7-0 run to make it 23-22 with 4:45 to play. The Hawks bounced back with a 12-2 run over their own and held a 38-27 advantage at intermission.

The Explorers (12-18, 4-12, 1-3 Big 5) got within four points at 49-45 with 11:58 to play on Barrett's fifth three but could draw no closer.

Green finishes his remarkable career with 1,914 points, good for ninth all-time in the program's history. He also moved into ninth place on the all-time assist list with 390, joining Donnie Carr as the only Explorers in the top 10 in both categories.

Barrett wraps up his career with 1,072 points (41st all-time) and Mekongo finishes with 1,014 points (47th all-time).

Murray did not block a shot versus SJU (11-19, 5-11 A-10, 2-2 Big 5), but wraps up his rookie campaign with 70 rejections, good for second on the single season list behind Lionel Simmons' 77 in 1987-88.