Men's Basketball | November 27, 2015

GLASSBORO, N.J. – The La Salle men's basketball team visits Division III Rowan on Saturday at 3 PM in a game that was scheduled to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Profs' 1996 National Championship that current Explorer head coach Dr. John Giannini coached. 

La Salle Explorers (3-1) at Rowan Profs (2-4)
Saturday, November 28 | 3 PM | Esby Gym 
 
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Game Notes
La Salle | Rowan

Media Coverage
Daily News: John Giannini's Aha Moment
South Jersey Times: La Salle coach John Giannini returns to Rowan to honor championship team
Courier-Post: Division III Rowan playing host to Division I La Salle
D3hoopscom: 20 years later it's a Rowan reunion
 
Last Time Out 
Penn's Darien Nelson-Henry had 31 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Quakers to a 80-64 victory over La Salle in the Big 5 opener at the Palestra on Wednesday night. Junior Cleon Robertsled the Explorers with 20 points, while classmateJordan Price, who came into the game as the nation's top scorer, had 18. Sophomore Johnnie Shuler was the only other La Salle player in double-figures with 10 points. He added a team-best and career-high tying eight rebounds.

The Explorers couldn't contain the 6-foot-11 Nelson-Henry, who did almost everything he wanted in a career-game for the center. He shot 14-for-19 from the field and added two blocks. Sam Jones added 18 points for the Quakers (4-1, 1-0 Big 5), who shot nearly 60% in the second half on their way to 51 points after intermission.  
 
Series Information 
• This is the first match-up between the two schools. 
• The last time a Division I school traveled to a Division III school was on Nov. 22, 2003 when Villanova visited Redlands.
• La Salle last played a non-Division I team during the regular season on December 19, 2007 vs. Division II Puerto-Rico Mayaguez in the San Juan Shootout.
• The last true road game against a non-Division I was at Division II Florida Southern on December 21, 1978.
• The last game against a Division III team was at Widener on November 25, 1977 (83-75, La Salle).
• Widener (1975, 1976, 1977) and Dickinson (Jan. 31, 1977) are the only Division III teams that La Salle has played since the NCAA split into Division I, II, and III to begin the 1973-74 season.
• The Explorers are 4-0 against Division III teams since the NCAA split into divisions.

Scouting the Explorers 
• Jordan Price is currently third in the nation in scoring at 26.5 points per game. 

• Sophomore Amar Stukes has committed only three turnovers in 126 minutes and has dished a team-best 18 assists.

• La Salle is currently ranked second nationally and is first in the A-10 in free-throw shooting at 83.6%. Johnnie Shuler is 11-for-12 (.917) and is ranked fourth in the league. 

• Sophomore Amar Stukes has committed only three turnovers in 126 minutes and has dished a team-best 18 assists.

• Johnnie Shuler is ranked fourth nationally in minutes per game (39.0).
  
Scouting the Profs
Rowan is off to a 2-4 start with victories over Washington College and Wilkes. Four players score double-figures, led by Shawn Wilson (17.0 ppg.). Kris O'Connor adds 16.3 ppg. and Chris Gross scores 11.2. Freshman twins Nick and Rob DiPersia start in the backcourt. Rowan is looking for its first win over a Division I school since beating Rider in 1979

Connections
Rowan head coach Joe Cassidy and Profs assistant Dave Lafferty were Dr. John Giannini's assistants during the his tenure in Glassboro. Rowan assistant Demetrius Poles played for La Salle head coach Dr. John Giannini at Rowan on the 1996 National Championship team. The National Championship game's Most Outstanding Player was Terrence Stewart, who spent three years at La Salle (2009-12) on the team's coaching staff as the video coordinator. 
 
Up Next 
The Explorers return home on Wednesday to host Hofstra at 7 PM. The Pride are coached by La Salle grad and former assistant coach Joe Mihalich.