PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men's basketball team will take on its biggest rival, Saint Joseph's, on Saturday in a Big 5 and Atlantic 10 match-up at the Palestra. Tip-off is set for 1 PM and the game will be broadcast nationally on the NBC Sports Network with Dave Strader and Dave Kaplan on the call.

Saint Joseph's Hawks (14-9, 5-5 A-10, 2-1 Big 5) at La Salle Explorers (17-6, 7-3 A-10, 2-0 Big 5)
Saturday, February 16, 2013 | 1 PM | The Palestra
Live Tweets @ExplorerGameDay | Sign up for Text Alerts
Live Audio (FREE) | Live Statistics
Radio: 990 AM WNTP
TV: NBC Sports Network (pbp: Dave Strader; color: Dave Kaplan)

Game Notes
La Salle | Saint Joseph's

Last Time Out
Senior Ramon Galloway scored a game-high 23 points and La Salle outlasted a determined St. Bonaventure team, 69-66, in overtime on Wednesday night at the Reilly Center. Junior Tyrone Garland added 16 points for the Explorers, who improve to 17-6 and 7-3 in the Atlantic 10.
“This was as mentally tough a win and as resilient of a win as I've ever had,” head coach Dr. John Giannini said. “We showed great mental toughness.
 
“Tyreek was sick and was not his normal self. Jerrell [Wright] was hurt, Ramon got hurt, guys really stepped it up. We weren't at 100% and playing a good team and found a way to win. “
 
Sophomore Steve Zack had a game-high 10 rebounds and eight points while Tyreek Duren added eight points.
 
With the win, the Explorers improve to 5-1 in games decided by five points or less.

All-Time Series
Saint Joseph's leads the all-time series 63-53 but La Salle has won three of the last five games.

Coach's Corner
Head coach Dr. John Giannini on...

On St. Bonaventure win
I was very pleased because St. Bonaventure is a good team as evidenced by their wins at Temple and at St. Joe's. We were nowhere near 100% against a good team in a hostile environment and we came out with the win. I am thrilled with the toughness and mental characteristics that we showed.

On the St. Joe's game
It's a great matchup. They have outstanding players and pose a lot of challenges for us. They are big and they have great guards. It should be a great game.
 
Scouting the Explorers
La Salle has won its last three and five of its last six to improve to 17-6 and 7-3 in the Atlantic 10. The Explorers are tied for third in the conference standings and a game behind VCU for the top spot.

A win over the Hawks on Saturday would clinch at least a share of the Big 5 title for La Salle. Wins over SJU and Temple on Thursday would earn the team the outright City Series championship.

La Salle has been rotating its starting lineup with D.J. Peterson and Steve Zack of late and the Explorers are now 6-1 when Peterson is in the starting five. Zack has come on strong of late as well and has entered the top ten in the Atlantic 10 in rebounding after averaging 8.8 rpg. in his last five contests.
 
Scouting the Hawks
Saint Joseph's comes into today's game having lost two of its last three games and are in the middle of the jumbled A-10 standings at 5-5. Senior Carl Jones leads the team in scoring at 15.0 ppg. Three other players score in double-figures, including Langston Galloway (13.3 ppg.), Ronald Roberts (11.3 ppg., team-best 8.7 rpg.) and C.J. Aiken (11.2 ppg.). Aiken has also blocked a team-best 68 shots this season.

The Hawks are second in the league in 3-point defense (.316) and fourth in FG defense (.409).

Up Next
La Salle plays its final Big 5 game of the season on Thursday at Temple at 7 PM. The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network.