Feb. 27, 2011

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - La Salle honored its seniors and the nearly 75 members of the University's Hall of Athletes in attendance by turning up the defense in a 72-51 victory over visiting Massachusetts on Sunday afternoon.

"This week is the first time that we've responded to a serious challenge," head coach Dr. John Giannini said. "You can't be successful without mental toughness. Hopefully it's the start of something."

Despite shooting 35% from the field, La Salle had its best defensive outing of the season, holding the Minutemen to 29.8% shooting and outrebounding the visitors, 57-33.

Sophomore Aaric Murray led all scorers with 16 points, while senior Jerrell Williams had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Senior Ruben Guillandeaux added 12 points, while junior Earl Pettis had his first double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Steve Weingarten added 10 boards.

La Salle honored its four seniors - Guillandeaux, Weingarten, Williams and Greg Danish - in a pre-game ceremony. Danish, a walk-on, earned his first start, and hit a three within the first few minutes of the contest.

The University also celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Hall of Athletes. Members from the four national championship teams and the inaugural class were in attendance and recognized at halftime.

"We know we're a better team than our record indicates," Guillandeaux said. "We just want to end the season showing that."

The Explorers shot out to an early lead with a score of 15-6 five minutes into the game and continued to pull away from Massachusetts, going up by as many as 24 points in the first half.

A restarted offense by Massachusetts with three back-to-back three pointers to open the second half pulled the Minutemen within 14, the closet they got to the Explorers in the second half.

Murray's lay up with a little more than six minutes left in the game made him the fourth Explorer to hit double figures in scoring.His jumper three minutes later made the lead a game-high 31 point game.

No Minuteman ever scored in double figures as freshman forward Putney lead the team with nine. The Explorers limited the Minutemen's leading scorer, Anthony Gurley (18.9 ppg), to four points and four rebounds.

"From the second the ball went up to the last second on the clock, La Salle played a much better basketball game than us," Massachusetts head coach Derek Kellogg said. "They controlled the game for 40 minutes."

La Salle's 57 rebounds were the second most this season after grabbing 59 vs. Providence in Cancun in November. The two double-doubles by Williams and Pettis mark the second time this season that two Explorers recorded at least 10 points and 10 boards (Rider, Dec. 22; Murray and Williams).

The Explorers (13-16, 5-9 A-10) will next face Fordham (6-19, 0-13 A-10), Wednesday at 7 p.m. in their last home game of the season.