Men's Basketball | November 16, 2021

PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men's basketball team looks to extend its win streak after a Homecoming victory over UAlbany, hitting the road for the first time this season as they face Delaware in midweek action. Tip is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 17.
 
For fans making the trip, make sure to check out the Delaware Athletics Health and Safety Attendance Guidelines, which can be found here. All attendees ages 12 or older must provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative PCR coronavirus test taken within 72 hours of the event.
 
NEWS AND NOTES

• For the first time of the season, the Explorers pack up and head out on the road after opening their first two games inside Tom Gola Arena.
• The Explorers look to grab a win in their first road game of the season, going 0-3 in road openers under the Coach Howard tenure.
• La Salle rebounded after season-opening defeat, knocking off the UAlbany Great Danes on Homecoming Weekend by 67-64 margin. La Salle has now won its last two homecoming games, beating Iona 70-64 in overtime in 2019-20.

 
SCOUTING DELAWARE

• The Blue Hens enter the Bob Carpenter Center for the first time on the season, opening up with two games on the road against Davidson and Siena.
• An opening night 22 point defeat to A-10 adversaries Davidson was corrected against Siena, this time the Blue Hens on the winning side of a 20 point rout.
• As a team, the Blue Hens have shot nearly 50% per game in their opening two contests, led by leading scorer Dylan Painter. The grad forward has averaged 16.5ppg to start, knocking down 11 of his 15 attempts from the field for 73.3%. Painter also leads the squad in rebounds, averaging 8.0 karoms per contest.
• Jameer Nelson, Jr. (15.0 ppg), Ryan Allen (12.0 ppg) and Kevin Anderson (10.0 ppg) all join Painter in averaging double-figures.

 
ON THE ROAD AGAIN

• A rare feat for the Explorers in the nonconference campaign, La Salle makes one of just its two trips outside of the city on the season. The trip to Delaware will be the first time this season outside of Tom Gola Arena, while the trip to Bucknell being the only other time outside of A-10 play that the Explorers have to leave Philadelphia. A Big 5 game at Temple is the only other contest that the Explorers find themselves on the visiting side of the scoreboard.

 
LEASHING THE GREAT DANES

• Part of the success on Homecoming Weekend against UAlbany was found on the defensive side of the ball, the Explorers pestering the Great Dane offense. La Salle forced 26 turnovers on the afternoon, turning that into 23 points on the other end.
• The 26 turnovers forced was the most in nearly 20 years, the Explorers last forcing that oppenent errors in a season-opening win against Delaware on Nov. 22, 2002 in a 73-56 win.

 
HOMECOMING HEROICS

• La Salle had a balance on the offensive side of the ball in the Homecoming win over UAlbany ball, but could point to a defensive performance in why the Explorers were fortuitous in the 67-64 battle.
• The Explorers took nine charges over the course of the 40 minutes played, five different players forcing the call. Sherif Kenney led the way with three, while also coming up with a big block on a fast break opportunity with just 55 seconds left to keep the lead at two possessions.

 
FREE THROW WHOA (WOE)

• The Explorers have been on opposite spectrums in the opening two games from the charity stripe. Opening the season, La Salle shot just 6-14 (42.9%) from the line.
• La Salle righted the ship in the contest against UAlbany, knocking down 17-21 (81.0%) of its attempts in the contest.

 
SERIES HISTORY

• The 27th matchup between the Blue Hens and Explorers awaits on Wednesday night inside the Bob Carpenter Center.
• The first meeting between the two sides came in the first year of La Salle basketball, the Blue Hens winning 33-25 on Dec. 12, 1931.
• La Salle leads in all categories, and is 12-1 all time when playing at home or at the Palestra.
• The Blue Hens have their best success with the Explorers on the road, but have just a 3-7 record on their home court.
• La Salle is unblemished with a 4-0 record on neutral sites.