LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The La Salle men's basketball team will look for its fourth consecutive win in this year's NCAA Tournament on Thursday night vs. Wichita State. The winner will take on the winner of Ohio State-Arizona in the Elite 8.
#13 La Salle Explorers vs. #9 Wichita State Shockers
Thursday, March 28, 2013 | 10:17 PM (ET) | Staples Center
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TV: TBS (pbp: Kevin Harlan; analysts: Reggie Miller, Len Elmore, Lewis JohnsoN)
Radio: 990 AM WNTP
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NCAA Media Coverage - Thursday
Last Time Out
Tyrone Garland scored the winning bucket he dubbed the “southwest Philly floater” with 2.5 seconds left as the Explorers took down Ole Miss, 76-74, to advance to the Sweet 16.
Ramon Galloway led all scorers with 24 points (8-13 FG, 6-10 3-PT, 2-2 FT) while
Tyreek Duren and Garland combined for 36 in the effort.
Scouting the Explorers
• La Salle joins VCU (2011) as the only First Four teams to reach the Sweet 16.
• La Salle is the fifth 13 seed to reach the Sweet 16 joining Bradley (2006), Oklahoma (1999), Richmond (1988), and Valparaiso (1998). None have made the Elite Eight.
• La Salle has taken quite the road to Los Angeles. It started with a flight to Dayton (539 miles), then to Kansas City (598 miles), then to Los Angeles (1,617) for a total of 2,754 miles since last Monday.
• Only six La Salle teams have won more games than the 24 that this current Explorer edition has (1952-55, 1988-90).
• La Salle is 14-10 all-time in 12 NCAA?Appearances and is looking for its fourth win in the tournament for the first time since reaching the NCAA?finals in 1955.
• Dr. John?Giannini passed Paul Westhead into third place on La Salle's all-time win list with 143 victories. He needs three to pass National Basketball Hall of Famer Ken Loeffler.
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Ramon Galloway reached 1,000 for his career at La Salle on Sunday with 24 points. He has scored 1,572 points in his four-year college career. Only eight players have scored 1,000 points at La Salle in his first two seasons. Galloway has made 19 of his last 20 free throws (94.4%).
• La Salle is 23-0 when tied or leading with five minutes to play.
Scouting the Shockers
Wichita State knocked off top-seeded Gonzaga, 76-70, on Saturday and defeated No. 8 Pitt, 73-55, in the opening round. The Shockers converted 50 percent (25-50) from the field and 50 percent (14-28) from behind the arc in their upset over Gonzaga. Freshman Ron Baker and junior Cleanthony Early each had 16 points for Wichita State.
As a team, the Shockers are one of the country's preeminent rebounding squads, with a +7.9 rebounding margin (7
th nationally). The Shockers rotate 11 players that average double figure minutes, eight of which average at least 3.1 rebounds/game.
Early was a first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference choice and leads the team with 13.9 points/game while pulling down 5.2 rebounds/game. Second-team choice Carl Hall leads the squad in boards (6.9 rpg) and averages 12.6 points/game. All-Honorable Mention selection Malcolm Armstead leads the team in assists/game (4.0) and scores 10.6 points/game.
Coached by the MVC Coach of the Year Gregg Marshall, the Shockers won 25 games this season for the fourth consecutive campaign.
