Jan. 29, 2011

Box Score Highlights and travel blog coming Sunday

CHARLOTTE, NC - Freshman Cole Stefan hit a three-pointer with 7.8 seconds remaining to tie the score in the first overtime and La Salle controlled the action in the second overtime to beat Charlotte, 91-86, on Saturday evening at Halton Arena. Five Explorers reached double-figures, led by 17 each from senior Jerrell Williams and junior Earl Pettis, as the Blue and Gold won its third straight.

Trailing 67-61 with 1:10 to play in regulation, it didn't look like the visitors would leave the Queen City with a victory. But a tip-in from sophomore Aaric Murray (16 points, nine rebounds) and two foul shots from senior Ruben Guillandeaux (12 points) cut the deficit to two with 57 seconds left.

After two Charlotte foul shots, Guillandeaux made a driving layup and the 49ers made just one-of-two from the line to make it 70-67 with 39 ticks on the clock.

Guillandeaux, who scored La Salle's final eight points in regulation, made two more foul shots with 33 seconds left and another one-for-two from Charlotte left the Explorers trailing by two.

Guillandeaux then made another lay-up with 21 seconds to play to tie the score and Charlotte's Derrio Green had his potential game-winner go in-and-out at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

La Salle quickly took the lead by four after four straight foul shots by Murray, but the 49ers tied the score and went ahead by three with 11 seconds left. Stefan, who on the play before had his shot blocked and then committed a foul, gained redemption when he drained a three from the wing to tie the game at 78-78 with 7.8 seconds left. He finished with nine points.

Stefan opened the second overtime with a three and La Salle never looked back, leading by five points on four different occasions. Freshman Tyreek Duren had six of his 12 points in the second overtime.

La Salle committed just 12 turnovers in 50 minutes and connected on 29-for-34 from the foul line for 85.3%. The Explorers were 8-for-8 from the line in overtime.

The 49ers, which lead the Atlantic 10 in free throw showing, shot just 50% (9-for- 18) in the overtime periods.

The Blue and Gold won for the second straight time at Halton Arena, where the 49ers are 149-48 since the building opened 15 years ago.

KJ Sherrill had 24 points and 13 rebounds off the bench for Charlotte (9-12, 1-6 A-10) while Javarris Barnett had 19, including 16 in the first half.

La Salle (11-11, 3-4 A-10) will play host to city rival Temple on Wednesday night at Gola Arena at 7 PM. The game will not count in the Big 5 standings.