PHILADELPHIA – La Salle men's basketball welcomes the Fordham Rams to Tom Gola Arena on Saturday afternoon for Hall of Athletes Day. The Explorers will be donned in pink sneakers and warm-ups to raise awarness for breast cancer. Pink ribbons will be made available for purchase throughout the game. All proceeds will be donated to the For Pete's Sake Cancer Respite Foundation.

The game will be played as scheduled despite the snow that fell in Philadelphia this morning. 

Four former athletes will be inducted into the La Salle University Hall of Athletes. Frank S. Blatcher '56 (men's basketball), Kevin J. Coleman '05 (men's soccer), Melanie Coots Platchek '02 (women's diving) and Jon Walheim '66 (men's swimming) will be recognized at halftime. A post-game reception and the induction program will follow in the Ballroom of the Student Union on campus at approximately 4:30 PM.

Fordham Rams (6-17, 2-6 A-10) at La Salle Explorers (15-6, 5-3 A-10)
Saturday, February 9, 2013 | 2 PM | Tom Gola Arena
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Game Notes
La Salle | Fordham

Last Time Out
The Explorers raced to a 25-11 first half lead and coasted to an 80-71 victory over George Washington on Saturday afternoon in D.C. D.J. Peterson (5-6 3PT) and Ramon Galloway (2-14 FG, 1-8 3PT, 10-10 FT) both posted a team-high 15 points and Jerrell Wright added 12 points and eight boards. La Salle's 11-for-25 mark (44 percent) from behind the arc was its highest tally since going 13-for-28 (46 percent) at Siena on December 29 as was its 80-point scoring output.

All-Time Series
The Blue and Gold have dominated the Rams historically, owning a 32-13 advantage dating back to the series advent in 1954.

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

Last week's performance:
We had two extremely hard fought games last week which we expect in this league. We felt better against GW and we knew it was an important game coming off a loss. Our guys came out strong from the start. We got a 20-point lead but against a team of that quality, you know they're going to come back. I'm glad that we controlled the tempo and I'm glad it never got lower than five. Our guys gave a great effort against a GW team that has been playing terrific lately.

His team's improved shooting:
We haven't shot the ball great. I think one of the reasons we're shooting the ball better now is that we're passing the ball better. I really like the saying “good passers make good shooters.” When you get the ball and you're open and you're in rhythm it's a lot easier to make a shot. Of course, when you pass the ball well you're not going to force as many shots. I think as a team we're playing better and it's reflecting in our shooting.

Having a week off:
I think most teams this time of year are a little banged up physically or they may have some sickness so there's a bunch of ways to use a week like this. You could push your guys, you could use it for conditioning, you could sharpen up your execution, or you could try to use it to get fresher and a little healthier. I think the latter thing could be important for us to feel better and make a run here in the second half of the league.

Scouting the Explorers
La Salle has won three of its last four and nine of 11 at home this season. The Blue and Gold enter the weekend ranked second in the Atlantic 10 in steals/game (8.6) and third in scoring offense (71.4 ppg), three point field goal percentage defense (.316), and turnover margin (+3.67, 19^th nationally). The Explorers come in fourth in scoring margin (+6.3), free throw percentage (.733), and assist/turnover ratio (1.2).

Senior Ramon Galloway continues to carry the Explorers in many categories, including points/game (17.0; fourth in A-10), free throw percentage (.800), steals/game (2.3; fourth in A-10, 20^th nationally), three point field goal percentage (.401), and three point field goals/game (2.7; fourth in A-10).

Junior Tyreek Duren comes in at 14.1 points/game and 3.4 assists/game, good for the team lead. Junior Tyrone Garland (12.1 ppg) and sophomore Jerrell Wright (10.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg) round out double figure scoring averages for the Explorers.

Sophomore Steve Zack (6.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg) is the squad's leading rebounder while Sam Mills (7.4 ppg, 2.3 apg) continues to rank in the conference's top 10 in minutes/game at 34.3. Sophomore D.J. Peterson plays the role of “glue guy” for the Explorers on the defensive end along with ranking third on the team with 23 made three point field goals.

Scouting the Rams
Fordham has dropped three straight and six of its last seven, most recently a 90-73 loss to Saint Louis on Wednesday evening. As a team, the Rams' strength is its front court, ranking fifth in the A-10 in blocks/game (4.3) and sixth in rebounding margin (+3.3). The Rams haul in 13.7 offensive rebounds/game, the second most in the league.

Junior guard Branden Frazier enters the weekend ranked eighth in the A-10 in scoring at 15.7 points/game and second in assists/game with 5.3. He is joined in double figures by senior forward Chris Gaston (14.0 ppg), who has missed the last four games with an injury. Sophomore center Ryan Canty (6.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg) comes in as the conference's eighth-leading rebounder. Sophomore guard Bryan Smith is the Rams' primary outside scoring threat with 40 three point field goals on the season.

The Rams gang-rebound as well as anyone in the A-10, boasting six rebounders of at least 3.4/game.

Up Next
The Explorers travel to defending A-10 champion St. Bonaventure on Wednesday for a 7 PM matchup.