Men's Basketball | February 16, 2018

PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle University men's basketball team plays the second of three consecutive games at Tom Gola Arena on Saturday afternoon as it hosts George Mason. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. The game will air live on the Atlantic 10 Digital Network, with Kale Beers and Rich Prendergast calling the action.

A jam-packed halftime ceremony is scheduled, as this year's class of La Salle Hall of Athletes inductees will be honored. Also scheduled to be recognized are 10 teams celebrating an anniversary of playing in the postseason, including eight from men's basketball. 

All fans in attendance will receive a limited edition La Salle Athletics cup. The game will also mark Accepted Students Day at La Salle, as well as the Student Sweepstakes in which underclassmen will have opportunities to win free parking and free housing for one year. Current seniors in attendance will also be eligible to win graduation gala tickets and a free cap and gown.

NEWS & NOTES
•The Explorers (10-16, 4-9 A-10) are looking to snap a three-game losing skid, with the most recent loss coming at the hands of St. Bonaventure, 79-68, on Tuesday.
•Sophomore Saul Phiri scored a career-high 22 points against the Bonnies, including a 5-for-9 showing from three-point range.
•Phiri has set new career highs for points in a game in two of his last three outings, with his prior best coming at George Washington on Feb. 7 (16 points).
•Over his last three games, the 6-4 guard has connected on 11 three-pointers and is shooting 45.8 percent from long range over that span. 
•Graduate student Amar Stukes started his 26th game of the season and played in the 120th game of his career, which moved him into a tie for 12th with Larry Koretz (1983-87) and Ruben Guillandeaux (2006-11).
•Stukes is one game shy of a tie for 10th with Jerrell Williams (2007-11) and Hall of Athletes inductee Tim Legler (1984-88).
•Members of ten different La Salle basketball teams (eight men, two women) will be celebrated at halftime of the contest for advancing to postseason play.
•The eight men's teams being honore are the 1947-48 NIT team, the 1952-53 NIT team, the 1962-63 NIT team, the 1967-68 NCAA team, the 1977-78 NCAA team, the 1982-83 NCAA team, the 1987-88 NCAA team and the 2012-13 Sweet 16 team.
•La Salle will also honor its 2018 Class of Hall of Athletes at halftime, which includes Jeff Gershe (men's swimming) Jeff Hentz (baseball), Christa Plummer (women's track/cross country), Melissa Sanger (women's soccer) and the 1977 Men's Rowing Lightweight Eight.

SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS
•George Mason (12-14, 6-7 A-10) has won two straight including an 18-point win over Dayton on Wednesday evening.
•Junior Otis Livingston II registered a career-high 29 points and is the team's leading scorer at 17.4 points per contest.
•Three other players are averaging in double figures -- Jaire Grayer (13.1 ppg), Justin Kier (11.0 ppg) and Goanar Mar (10.2 ppg).
•Livingston II ranks fifth in the Atlantic 10 in three-point field goal percentage at 43.5 percent.