PHILADELPHIA – Following a six day hiatus from game action, the La Salle men's basketball team will take on Duquesne on Saturday afternoon at Tom Gola Arena at 2 PM.

Duquesne Dukes (8-19, 1-12 A-10) at La Salle Explorers (19-7, 9-4 A-10)
Saturday, March 2, 2013 | 2 PM | Tom Gola Arena
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Game Notes
La Salle | Duquesne

Last Time Out
The Explorers trailed Rhode Island 30-27 at the break, but the Blue and Gold shot 55 percent (16-29) from the field in the second half to knock off the Rams 72-65 on Sunday afternoon. Tyreek Duren led all scorers with 21 points (7-11 FG, 1-4 3PT, 6-8 FT) while three other Explorers (Garland, Galloway, Wright) reached double figures. Jerrell Wright recorded his third double-double of the year (12 pts, 15 reb) and Tyrone Garland tied a season-high six assists.

All-Time Series
La Salle maintains a 37-30 edge historically over the Dukes dating back to 1940. Last season, the Explorers toppled Duquesne, 71-68, in Pittsburgh. The Blue and Gold converted at 52 percent (28-54) from the field in the contest.

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

His team's victory on Sunday:
We feel great about winning at Rhode Island. We just had to fight very hard to get out of there with a win and it was the kind of gutsy win that allows your team to have consistency and not lose two in a row.

The NCAA tournament discussion:
It's in the back of your mind. When we practice all of our focus is on our next opponent. If you walk into our locker room there's information about our next opponent all over the place. We certainly want to make the NCAA tournament and we do talk about it but we talk far more about our upcoming opponent and so far we've been able to manage that balance.

Scouting the Explorers
La Salle currently sits in a tie for third place in the Atlantic 10 behind only Saint Louis and VCU. The Explorers are 5-1 in their last six and 7-2 in their last nine in conference play. As a team, the Blue and Gold rank first in the A-10 in three point field goal percentage defense (.309), second in free throw percentage (.746) and steals/game (8.1), and third in scoring offense (72.3 ppg), scoring margin (+7.0), three point field goal percentage (.371), turnover margin (+3.08), and assist/turnover ratio (1.2).

Ramon Galloway enters the weekend as the A-10's third-leading scorer (17.2 ppg) as well as the third-leading three point field goal shooter (2.8 threes/game). The senior converts at a 42 percent clip from long range and has made at least one trey in all but two games this season.

Wright comes in averaging 6.6 rebounds/game, most on the squad. The sophomore pulled down a career-high 15 boards at Rhode Island on Sunday and has posted at least six rebounds in six of his last eight games.

Garland continues to provide an offensive spark off the bench for the Blue and Gold. The junior is averaging 12.2 points/game and has reached double figures in five of the last six games.

Scouting the Dukes
Duquesne has lost its last three and have dropped 14 of 15. Its only A-10 victory of the season came on February 14 over Temple at the Liacouras Center. The Dukes average 8.2 three point field goals/game, second-most in the conference.

Freshman guard Derrick Colter paces the Dukes in scoring (13.0 ppg) and assists (5.1 apg). Colter possesses maturity beyond his years, ranking ninth in the A-10 in assist/turnover ratio (1.5). He has thrice been named the conference's rookie of the week this season.

Duquesne's three point shooting spree begins with freshman forward Quevyn Winters, who has stroked it at 37 percent (49-for-134) from deep. Colter has made 44 of his own while three others have made at least 24 on the season for the Dukes.

Up Next
La Salle will celebrate Senior Day on Wednesday, March 6 when it welcomes George Washington to Tom Gola Arena in the home season finale.