Jan. 2, 2011

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PHILADELPHIA - Senior Jerrell Williams declared the game against Binghamton a "great way to start the new year" and he was right. The Explorers rebounded from a tough stretch of contests by posting a win over an undersized Binghamton Bearcats team, 87-64, on Sunday at Tom Gola Arena.

"We threw our best shot at them," freshman guard Tyreek Duren, who had a team-best 18 points, said. "We needed this one more than anything else."

Seniors Ruben Guillandeaux and Williams were on the hunt to reach 1,000 career points but it was Duren who looked like he was aiming for 1,000 at the start of the game. Duren started La Salle's momentum by exploding for five of La Salle's eight straight points in the starting three minutes of the game. He finished with eleven points in the first half, including three steals and two rebounds.

Guillandeaux, despite shaking off an illness which sat him out against Towson on December 29, hit two threes in the first half, his 17th straight game with a three. He finished the game with ten points.

While more than half of the Explorer starting lineup posted double digit scoring figures, the Bearcats have only one player on their team averaging in the double digits (senior Greer Wright, 15.3 ppg) and indeed it was Wright who was the only Bearcat to reach double digits in the first half with 17. He finished with 20.

Wright wasn't helped by the Bearcats' 10 first half turnovers, which La Salle capitalized on for 16 points. However, it wasn't all bad news for the Bearcats, who had not scored more than 25 points in a first half this season.

By the end of the first half, La Salle led the Bearcats by a score of 52-38 as freshman Sam Mills connected on a three to close the half at the buzzer which kept the momentum away from the Bearcats for good.

With the momentum firmly in La Salle's court, the Explorers scored eight unanswered points to start the second half, against a tired looking Binghamton team who finally scored three minutes into the second with a jumper by senior Moussa Camara closing the gap to 20.

Moussa Camara was the only other Bearcat besides Wright to make it into the double digits column contributing 12 points and two rebounds.

The Explorers showed a well-rounded effort, spreading their points across the board and giving some significant playing time to their freshman and reserves. Sophomore big man Aaric Murray (eight points) threw down three big dunks, blocked one shot and had seven rebounds.

Bearcat coach, and former Temple, Big 5 and A-10 great, Mark Macon explained just how much impact Murray's and the Explorers defense had.

"They killed us inside, on the glass," Macon said. "They really hurt us. That was the game plan from the beginning, to stop them from killing us on the glass."

Senior Steve Weingarten lit up the second half for a total of 16 points, two shy of a career-high.

Mills also pushed the Explorers with 10 points and five rebounds. Williams finished with 12 points and nine rebounds.

Freshman Cole Stefan, who until the last game against Towson has seen limited playing time, dropped in another two smooth three pointers from beyond the arc. The Explorers hope to bring their newfound positivity and momentum into the A-10 season.

"I think last year was my first year not going to A-10," Williams said. "It was real heartbreaking. This year we need to focus on the game plan, take one game at a time. Stick to our principles, play hard."

Head coach Dr. John Giannini echoed Williams' sentiments and elaborated on their new game plan which includes charting the team's positive attitude as a statistic.

"We talked about when we were playing well we had guys on the bench cheering. It's a 100% mental. We got some energy and enthusiasm back," Giannini said. "We've done every defensive drill imaginable. At the end of the day it comes down to guys supporting each other. It improves your focus, it improves your energy."

The Explorers will open A-10 play by visiting George Washington in the nation's capital on Wednesday at 7 p.m.