Men's Basketball | January 10, 2019

PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle University men's basketball team opens a three-game homestand on Saturday evening as it hosts preseason Atlantic 10 favorite Saint Louis at Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m., with all of the action being aired live nationally on NBC Sports Network. 

NEWS & NOTES
•The Explorers had their three-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday evening at the hands of VCU, 69-63.
•La Salle led by as many as 18 points in the opening half but saw the Rams slowly mount a comeback over the final 25 minutes of the game.
•Freshman Ed Croswell provided a spark off the bench, matching his season high with 11 points on a perfect shooting performance (4-4 FG, 3-3 FT). Croswell also added a team-high seven rebounds.
•Graduate student Pookie Powell and junior Isiah Deas shared team-high honors with 15 points apiece, but shot a combined 11-for-31 from the floor.
•The Rams were able to force 19 La Salle turnovers and went to the free-throw line 34 times compared to 20 attempts by the Explorers.
•Powell also matched his season and career high with five steals, and sophomore David Beatty set a personal best with three.
•La Salle currently ranks third in the Atlantic 10 in steals per game at 8.1.
•The game against the Billikens marks the first of three straight contests set to be played at Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center.
•Following the tilt on Saturday, the Explorers will host George Washington in the second half of a doubleheader with the women's team on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 8:00 p.m.
•The homestand concludes with another nationally televised matchup against Rhode Island on Saturday, Jan. 19. 
•A special halftime ceremony on Jan. 19 will honor the members of the La Salle Hall of Athletes Class of 2019: the 1968-69 men's basketball team, former track/cross country standout Ryan Fennelly and women's basketball and field hockey star Kelly Greenburg.
•That game, which will also air live on NBC Sports Network, is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

SCOUTING SAINT LOUIS
•The Billikens fended off a challenge from Massachusetts on Wednesday to earn a 65-62 home win and improve to 2-0 in Atlantic 10 play.
•Hasahn French had 25 points and three steals while former Drexel guard Tramaine Isabell added 17 points.
•SLU boasts an 11-4 overall record which includes wins over Seton Hall, Butler and Oregon State.
•Saint Louis received 15 of a possible 26 first-place votes in the preseason A-10 poll.