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PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men's basketball team tied a school record with 18 three pointers in an 89-53 victory over Fordham on Saturday afternoon at Tom Gola Arena. Junior Sam Mills led all scorers with a career-high 21 points (7-8 3PT) and senior Ramon Galloway added 19 points (6-9 FG, 5-7 3PT, 2-2 FT) and six assists.

The 18 three-pointers are the most nationally by any team this season and the most by any Division I team since Longwood made 20 vs. VMI on December 20, 2011.

“It finally hit today,” Mills said when asked about breaking out of his shooting slump. “This whole year I've been trying to work on it more and more and I struggled in the beginning but now it's feeling more comfortable.”

Mills' seven three-pointers are the most by an Explorer since Darnell Harris hit eight vs. Dayton on February 21, 2008.

“He's a career 40 percent shooter,” head coach Dr. John Giannini said of Mills, who entered the game shooting 28 percent from long range. “He's a career double figure scorer and sometimes you're confused when a guy does not shoot the way he normally does. But you don't make a deal out of it and sooner or later you get going again and that's what's happened to Sam the last few games.”

Fordham (6-18, 2-7 A-10) escaped New York in time to miss the brunt of Winter Storm Nemo but the Rams were met by a flurry of three point buckets by La Salle to begin the game. The Blue and Gold converted its first eight from behind the arc and finished the game 18-33 (55 percent) from long range.

The Explorers (16-6, 6-3 A-10) entered the half comfortably up 56-25 behind a 58 percent (19-33) mark from the field and an unconscious 13-19 (68 percent) line from three. Rather than coasting in the second period, the Explorers opened the half on a 24-10 run and led 80-35 at the 9:05 mark. Freshman O.J. Lewis' triple at 5:03 tied the program's all-time record of 18, although it was not one that would be surpassed.

The record of 18 was first set vs. Loyola Marymount on December 31, 1990 and tied on December 28, 1991 vs. Oregon. 

“It was all in the flow of the game,” Galloway said. “We were finding each other and getting each other open. That's all we work on. Coach G preaches to us that if the guards get each other open we'll play well and we'll win.”

La Salle finished the afternoon at 48 percent (30-73) from the field, 55 percent (18-33) from three, and 11-14 (79 percent) from the free throw line. The Explorers were credited with 22 team assists, its second highest tally of the year.

Fordham was stymied all game long, converting 35 percent (20-58) of its field goals, 19 percent (3-16) of its threes, and  10-13(77 percent) from the charity stripe. The Rams coughed up 14 turnovers and forced only eight.

Junior Tyrone Garland (17 pts; 6-13 FG, 0-4 3PT, 5-6 FT) and junior Tyreek Duren (16 pts; 5-5 FG, 4-4 3PT, 2-2 FT) also posted double-digit scoring outputs for the Explorers. In addition to Duren's perfect afternoon shooting the rock, the junior notched a game-high eight assists and committed only one turnover. Sophomores Steve Zack (4 pts, 7 reb) and Jerrell Wright (4 pts, 7 reb) led the Blue and Gold on the glass.

“We're all in the gym early, getting shots up,” Duren said. “A lot of people know we've been on a cold streak lately and to get that out of our system feels real good.”

The Rams were paced by 10 points each from Travion Leonard and Jermaine Myers. Ryan Canty hauled in a game-high nine rebounds, aiding the Rams' 37-35 edge on the afternoon. Brendan Frazier entered the weeking averaging over 15 points/game, but only managed two on Saturday on 1-10 shooting from the field.

“Ramon deserves a lot of credit for that,” Giannini said, when asked about Fraziers' containment. “The whole team did a great job but he really, really excelled. We know he's an absolute key for their team and we challenged our guys and they met the challenge.”

The team wore pink shoes to support breast cancer awareness and For Pete's Sake Cancer Respite Foundation.

At halftime, the four new inductees of the La Salle Hall of Athletes were recognized. They were Frank Blatcher '56 (men's basketball), Kevin Coleman '05 (men's soccer), Melanie Coots Platchek '02 (women's diving) and Jon Walheim '66 (men's swimming.

The Explorers will look for a third consecutive victory on Wednesday evening at St. Bonaventure.