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PHILADELPHIA – La Salle gutted out a fiercely competitive contest Thursday night, dispatching George Washington 76-72 in the Atlantic 10 conference opener for both teams.  Senior guard Sam Mills led all players with a season high 17 points (6-of-8 FG; 5-of-7 3-PT), knocking down five triples.

Tyrone Garland added 15 points (5-of-11 FG; 1-of-4 3-PT; 4-of-8 FT) and three assists, while Tyreek Duren added 13 points (4-of-12 FG; 2-of-7 3-PT; 3-of-4 FT) and a game high five assists.

Patricio Garino netted 15 points off the bench for the Colonials, while Isaiah Armwood collected a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
 
"It was just a great game, both teams played their hearts out," head coach Dr. John Giannini said. "Everyone we put in the game contributed with great effort and positive input."
 
La Salle and George Washington entered tonight's Atlantic 10 opener coming off vastly different non-conference slates. The Explorers took awhile to find their stride in 2013-14, coming off deep post-season run to the Sweet 16 last season. In contrast, George Washington came out of the gate on fire, entering Thursday evening with a 12-2 mark, winners in seven of its last eight games.
 
However, the Explorers felt like they turned a corner in their victory over Penn over the weekend. The Explorer (8-6; 1-0 A-10) frontcourt shouldered much of the load throughout the majority of the non-conference slate, as the much ballyhooed Blue and Gold backcourt struggled to find its rhythm.

LU looked to the New Year as a fresh start as the Explorer guards knocked down eight three-pointers Saturday afternoon against Penn and hoped to build on that performance heading into the conference slate.
 
The backcourt answered the bell again against George Washington (12-3; 0-1 A-10). The starting trio of Explorer guards scored 45 of the teams 76 points, knocking down 8-of-18 three-pointers. Mills firmly placed himself in the spotlight of this one, scoring a game and season high 17 points, knocking down five of seven shots from beyond the arc.
 
"I think this is definitely the best game we played as a whole. As far as our guards, everyone has been talking about how we weren't really clicking on offense, nobody is shooting the ball well," Duren said. "I think the last couple games we kind of been on track a little bit and I think that is something to look forward during the season and will help us win down the stretch.
 
While you can clearly point to the Mills' offense as the key to the Explorer victory, it was a adept defensive play by the crafty senior in the waning moments that helped seal the Explorers fifth straight victory over George Washington.

With 6.2 seconds remaining, the Explorers clung to a slim two-point advantage, looking to inbound underneath their own basket. George Washington fiercely pressured the inbound pass, a low short-hop, which Garland bobbled. Joe McDonald swiped the ball from between Garland's legs and took a swift move to the Explorer basket looking to tie the game for the Colonials.

Sam Mills saw Garland in trouble, but rather than rushing to the ball, Mills instead made a beeline to a spot just outside the paint, planting his feet. McDonald plowed into Mills and was called for a charge, which gave the ball back to the Explorers with just two seconds remaining.
 
"I just wanted to make a big play for my team," Mills said. "I saw him coming over to make a wide open layup, I had to stop him, so I came over to take the charge."
 
"That charge is the thing that defines players as winners," Dr. John Giannini said.
 
The Explorers offense came in spurts in the opening twenty minutes, as they struggled at times to unlock the George Washington zone. The Explorers jumped out to the early 7-2 lead on the strength of three-pointers from Duren and Mills. However, the Explorers hit a rough patch going on a five-minute scoring drought, which George Washington parlayed to a 9-7 lead.
 
The Explorers broke out of the drought with a flurry, going on a 9-0 run to snatch a 16-9 lead. George Washington would not hold a lead for the rest of the game. The Blue and Gold held the slim advantage for almost the entirety of the half, but failed to extend it beyond seven. A 5-0 run by George Washington knotted the score at 31 as the teams reached the intermission.
 
The second half was more of the same, as the Explorers would extend the lead to seven three separate times, only to have the Colonials counterpunch. With the Explorers leading 70-64 with 1:31 to play, the Colonials whittled the lead to two on a Patricio Garino layup with six seconds remaining, setting the stage for Mills dramatics.
 
Duren nailed a pair of free throws to ice the game with 1.9 seconds remaining.
 
The Explorers return to action Sunday afternoon, as they hit the road for their Atlantic 10 road opener at Duquesne. Opening tip is scheduled for 2:30 and the game will be broadcast nationally on the NBC Sports Network.