Jan. 22, 2011

Box Score

KINGSTON, RI - Sophomore Aaric Murray put the Explorers ahead with an old-fashioned three-point play with 28 seconds remaining and blocked Rhode Island's Delroy James potential game-winner at the buzzer as La Salle defeated the Rams, 76-75, on Saturday afternoon at the Ryan Center. Murray led all scorers with 20 points in 22 minutes.

"This was the team we had over the first nine games," Dr. John Giannini said of his Explorers, who opened the season 6-3. "We're not perfect. But we played hard and with energy and with a renewed commitment to defense."

Junior Earl Pettis, who hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 72-72 with 1:43 added 14 points, including 11 after the break. Freshman Tyreek Duren scored 11 points, dished seven assists (versus two turnovers) and grabbed a team-best six rebounds. He also defended Rhode Island's Marquise Jones tightly in the final seconds and forced him into a missed three-pointer with three seconds to play.

Neither team led by more than four points in the final 6:33 and things got especially interesting in the final two-and-a-half minutes.

With 2:26 to play, URI's Will Martell made a layup to put the hosts ahead, 72-69, but Pettis responded 30 seconds later with his fourth three-pointer of the game to tie score. Jones then made one of two from the charity stripe with 1:27 left and senior Jerrell Williams did the same with 1:19 to play for the tenth tie of the game.

Duren blocked Jones' three-point attempt with 44 seconds to play and La Salle got the ball into Murray in the post, who made the lay-up and was fouled on the play. His foul shot made it 76-73 with 28 ticks on the clock.

An Explorer foul sent Jones to the line, where he made both, to cut the La Salle lead to just one. The Rams forced a jump ball in the corner on the ensuing inbound play to set up the final sequence. Jones' three-pointer was off the mark and James grabbed the board. Falling away, his shot was swatted away by Murray and the Explorers celebrated the victory.

Jones led the Rams with 15 points, while Nikola Malesevic had 14 points. James had 11 points and 14 boards for URI.

La Salle (9-11, 1-4 A-10) handed URI just its second loss at the Ryan Center of the season. Rhode Island (12-7, 3-2) is 94-40 at the arena since it opened during the 2002-03 season.

The Explorers led by as many as 12 points in the first half as Murray had a game-high eight despite having two fouls. URI cut the deficit to 32-28 at intermission.

In the second half, La Salle rallied back from an 11-point deficit with 10:27 to play with a 12-1 run to tie the score with 7:48 to go.

The Blue and Gold will host Saint Joseph's on Wednesday at the Palestra. Tip-off is set for 7 PM.