July 20, 2010

2010-11 Non-Conference Schedule

PHILADELPHIA - November trips to Baylor and the Cancun Challenge highlight the 2010-11 La Salle men's basketball non-conference schedule, head coach Dr. John Giannini announced today. The Explorers could face as many as five NCAA teams during the non-conference slate, including Baylor, Morgan State, Missouri, Oklahoma State and Villanova.

"Our schedule features opponents that will be nationally-ranked, teams that have been at the top of their conferences and a good number of home games that are necessary to continue building support and excitement for our program," Giannini said. "As usual it will be very challenging. We will work very hard to prepare ourselves to earn a successful non-conference record."

The regular season tips off at Tom Gola Arena on Friday, November 12 when the Explorers host Columbia. Next up is a trip to Waco, Texas to take on Baylor, which reached the NCAA Elite Eight last season, on November 16.

La Salle returns home to host two games in the Cancun Challenge against Prairie View A&M (November 18) and MEAC champion Morgan State (November 20). The Morgan State contest is part of the University's Homecoming celebration.

After a home contest against Delaware State (November 29), La Salle will take on NCAA qualifier Oklahoma State on December 4 at The Palestra. The Explorers will then visit CBI Semifinalist Boston University on December 9 before hosting its first Big 5 game of the season against Villanova on December 12.

La Salle will remain at Tom Gola Arena for the remainder of 2010 by hosting Bucknell (December 17), Rider (December 22) and Towson (December 29). The new year begins with a visit from Binghamton (January 2). A Big 5 match-up with Penn will close out the non-conference schedule on January 12.

The complete television schedule and game times, along with the Atlantic 10 schedule, will be announced at a later date.

It was also announced that guards T.T. Carey and Parrish Grant have requested and been granted releases to transfer from La Salle University.

"Parrish and T.T. played a significant role on our team last year," Giannini said. "I appreciate their efforts and support them."