Men's Basketball | December 6, 2017

PHILADELPHIA - After spending last week in Northern Ireland, the La Salle University men's basketball team returns to the United States for a matchup with city rival Drexel on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center.

The contest will be broadcast live on the Atlantic 10 Digital Network, with play-by-play man Kale Beers and analyst Richie Prendergast taking you through all the action. The first 300 students in attendance will receive a free La Salle fidget spinner, courtesy of La Salle Athletics.

NEWS & NOTES
•The Explorers split a pair of games across the Atlantic Ocean last weekend, dropping a 67-60 decision to Towson before earning a 58-54 win over Holy Cross.
•Senior B.J. Johnson continued to lead La Salle, averaging 19.5 points and 7.5 rebounds over the event to be named to the All-Tournament Team.
•Johnson, who was also named Big 5 Player of the Week for the second time this season on Tuesday, had a game-high 24 points against Towson.
•The 6-7 forward went to the free-throw line 20 times over the two games, connecting at a 90.0 percent clip (18-for-20).
•Redshirt freshman Cian Sullivan started each of the contests in Northern Ireland, playing 10 minutes and blocking a shot against Holy Cross.
•Senior Tony Washington was a key factor in La Salle's win over the Crusaders, grabbing 10 rebounds including four on the offensive end to go along with eight points.
•La Salle's bench did outscore its opponents at the Belfast Classic by a 37-22 margin, led by 19 points from sophomore Isiah Deas.
•The Explorers are a perfect 3-0 at Tom Gola Arena this season and are 4-0 at on-campus venues, with their four losses coming on neutral sites.

SCOUTING DREXEL
•The Dragons enter the game on Thursday having won two straight, including an 89-77 win over Rider on Dec. 2. 
•Drexel overcame a narrow two-point deficit at halftime behind Tramaine Isabell's 22 second-half points. 
•Isabell finished with 35 points and 13 rebounds against the Broncs and currently leads the team in scoring at 22.0 ppg. 
•Four other Dragons are averaging in double figures, including Austin Williams who is also pacing the squad in rebounding (8.1 per contest) and blocked shots (26).
•Drexel's biggest win came at the Paradise Jam which was held in Lynchburg, Va. this season.
•The Dragons handed Houston its first and only loss of the year, an 84-80 victory in which Isabell had 21 points and 16 rebounds. 
•Kurk Lee was also an integral part of the win, tallying 16 points.

LAST TIME WE MET
•La Salle defeated Drexel in last year's matchup between the two schools, 89-78, and the Explorers lead the all-time series 22-5.
•The Explorers had five players reach double figures in the scoring column, led by 22 points from senior Cleon Roberts.
•Roberts went 6-for-7 from three-point range to lead a long-distance barrage from La Salle to the tune of 13-of-21 (61.9%).
•Another senior, Jordan Price, also reached the 20-point plateau while Amar Stukes (14), Pookie Powell (12) and B.J. Johnson (12) also had solid scoring efforts.
•Drexel was led by 21 points from Kurk Lee and 15 from Sammy Mojica. Mojica also added a team-high eight rebounds.