Box Score
Box Score (PDF)
WASHINGTON, D.C. - La Salle held off a surging George Washington squad on Senior Night and won its final regular season road game of the season with a 60-56 victory on Wednesday night at the Smith Center. Freshman
Jerrell Wright had 15 points, while senior
Earl Pettis added 14.
The win moves La Salle to 19-11, 8-7 A-10 with one game remaining on the schedule versus St. Bonaventure on Saturday. The 19 wins are the most since the 1991-92 team won 20 games.
The victory clinched a home game in Tuesday's Atlantic 10 First Round for the Explorers, who can finish anywhere from fourth through eighth in the final standings depending on the outcome of Saturday's games.
The official Atlantic 10 Tournament bracket and game times will be announced following Saturday's contests.
Despite leading from buzzer to buzzer, Wednesday's game in the nation's capital went down to the wire. La Salle led 57-47 with 3:17 to play before the Colonials went on a 9-0 run to draw within one with 21 seconds left on Tony Taylor's layup.
Sophomore
Tyreek Duren made one of two foul shots for the Explorers and Taylor's driving lay-up was off the mark with nine seconds to play to keep the La Salle lead at 58-56. Duren was fouled again, making one of two, but the Colonials turned the ball over trying to go the length of the court in 2.2 seconds.
Senior
Devon White made a foul shot to account for the final point of the game.
Wright was solid and added six boards to his 15 points, nine of which came after intermission. He shot 5-for-8 from the field.
Pettis, meanwhile, did most of his damage in the first half, which nine of his 14 points. He now needs eight points to reach 1,000 for his career at both Rutgers and La Salle.
Duren added 12 points and three steals, while junior
Ramon Galloway (five assists) and sophomore
Sam Mills each added nine.
David Pellom had his fourth straight double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Explorers again held the opponents' top scorer under his average as Taylor shot 2-for-11 for six points. He did dish seven assists.
The Blue and Gold won the game despite making only three three-pointers. The season low was two at Delaware.
It was also the best defensive effort, in terms of points allowed, by La Salle since holding Hartford to 55 points in a 73-55 win on December 31.
GW falls to 10-19, 5-10 A-10.
La Salle is back at Gola Arena on Saturday at 2 PM against St. Bonaventure. Pettis and senior
Matt Sheehan will be recognized in a pre-game ceremony.