PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men's basketball team will tip off its regular season on Saturday versus. Delaware before a Homecoming crowd at Tom Gola Arena at 3 PM. 



In addition, veterans and military personnel (with proper identification) will receive free admittance in honor of Veteran's Day weekend. A color guard will pay tribute during the pregame ceremonies and veterans will be recognized during a media timeout.



Delaware Blue Hens (0-0) at La Salle Explorers (0-0)

Saturday, November 10, 2012 | 3 PM | Tom Gola Arena

Radio: WFIL 560 AM



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Game Notes

La Salle | Delaware



Last Time Out

Ramon Galloway stuffed the stat sheet last Friday night, posting 28 points, five rebounds, and three assists in a 61-58 victory over Carleton University in an exhibition. The Explorers overcame a 53-44 deficit with under 10 minutes remaining to pull off the comeback victory.



Series History

La Salle has dominated Delaware historically, holding a 19-4 record vs. the Blue Hens dating back to the series advent in 1931. 



Coach's Corner

Head Coach Dr. John Giannini on…



What to expect from Delaware:

They're a very good team. They're picked second in their conference and have four or five starters back from an 18-win team. They were able to beat us at home last year and took Temple to the last play of the game as well. They have two first-team preseason all-conference players. Hagins is one of the best rebounders in the country. Saddler's a prolific scorer and the other guys understand their roles.



I don't think either team is going to try to trick each other. They'll be more solid on defense; we'll be more pressure-oriented. We have to do as good a job as we can rebounding because that's definitely a strength of theirs.



We have to minimize easy baskets and get back on defense because they do like to attack the basket. We have to make sure we talk on defense, not just give an open shot on defense with two guys on the same man. It's largely going to be a game of fundamentals and effort.



Whoever plays the best defense and rebounds the best is going to have a great chance to win.



Homecoming crowd expectations:

Every team responds to a great home crowd. I know we'll have a great home crowd Saturday. I expect it to be real loud and it helps us. We've won 16 out of 19 home games for a reason and one of the biggest reasons is that our home crowd gives us energy. We're starting to build a true home court advantage and I think everyone's real excited playing at home in front of our fans Saturday.



Scouting the Explorers

La Salle assembled a balanced offensive attack in last season's contest at Delaware, with five Explorers ending in double figures. The Blue and Gold outrebounded the Blue Hens 41-38 in the contest, led by a team-high eight from Jerrell Wright and Ramon Galloway.



Galloway is a pre-season second team all-conference pick and joins fellow Big 5 pick Tyreek Duren, Sam Mills and D.J. Peterson as one of the top backcourts in the conference. Wright and sophomore Steve Zack started in the front court vs. Carleton and will be counted on for keeping Hagins off the glass.



Scouting the Blue Hens

Delaware churned out an 18-14 record last season, including a 12-6 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Blue Hens were picked to finish second in the 11-team conference preseason while senior forward Jamelle Hagins and junior guard Devon Saddler were selected as first-team CAA choices in the preseason coaches' poll. Sophomore guard Jarvis Threatt was a third-team nod as well.



Hagins averaged 12.4 ppg/11.1 ppg last season, ranking fifth nationally in rebounds. The senior was named a second-team All-CAA performer a season ago and is the school's all-time leader in blocked shots (212). Saddler ranked second in the conference last year with 18.8 ppg, earning him a spot on the CAA's second-team as a sophomore. Threatt was the Blue Hen's third leading scorer in 2011-12 (10.7 ppg) and finished second on the squad in assists with 70. The sophomore was a first-team all-rookie selection in the conference and dropped 31 points at Butler in Delaware's last game of the season.



Up Next

La Salle will continue its non-conference schedule by hosting Central Connecticut State on Sunday, November 18 at 2 p.m. at Tom Gola Arena.