Men's Basketball | January 16, 2022

PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men's basketball team matches up with rival Saint Joseph's on Monday afternoon, battling the Hawks in Hagan Arena in a nationally televised contest on MLK Day. The game will air on CBS Sports Network beginning at 4:00 p.m. An audio broadcast will also be available via the Explorer website, Kale Beers providing the play-by-play.
 
NEWS & NOTES

• The Explorers travel to Hagan Arena on Monday afternoon, competing in just their fourth road game of the season as the Hawks and Explorers meet on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, battling for the second time in as many years on this date.
• Holding A-10 basketball games on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was a collaborative idea that began with La Salle men's basketball head coach Ashley Howard and Saint Joseph's men's head coach Billy Lange and was instituted in 2020. The A-10 Commission worked to expand on this idea into a day-long celebration with a triple-header and league-wide programming.
• The majority of the season has seen the Explorers stay home, having left the city just twice so far in the season. The matchup breaks a three-game spontaneous home stand for the Explorers after COVID protocols forced a reshuffling of games for the 20th and Olney side.
• The Explorers continue to search for their first conference win of the season, coming off of an overtime heartbreaker to St. Bonaventure on Tuesday evening.
• The last time out, the Explorers held a double-digit advantage over the Bonnies with just over 10 minutes to play in the second half. The preseason A-10 favorites battled level, forcing the game into overtime. The Bonnies would prove victors, escaping with an 80-76 win.
• Clifton Moore continues to soar to new heights for the Explorers, beginning the Atlantic 10 schedule strong. The Ambler, Pa. native is first in scoring (21.3), third in rebounding (10.0) and has recorded back-to-back double-doubles. Previously scoring a career-best 15 points in a game in his four year collegiate career, Moore has eclipsed that mark in all three A-10 games this season.

 
SCOUTING SAINT JOSEPH'S

• Saint Joseph's enters their home bout against the Explorers evenly squared at 7-7, 1-2 in conference play. The Hawks produced a nearly 30-point rout over Richmond to begin A-10 play, but have since dropped back-to-back contests against Davidson and Rhode Island.
• One of the best playmakers in the country, Jordan Hall looks to continue his strong campaign. The sophomore averages 16.4 points per game, 6.7 boards and 6.5 assists (7th in the nation).
• Taylor Funk averages 13.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest, Ejike Obinna adding a team-high 7.4 rebounds along with his 61.5% shooting percentage - 14th in the nation.
• The Hawks are one of the premier rebounding teams in the nation, ranking 19th in defensive rebounds per game (28.86) and 51st in total rebounds (39.29). The Explorers will look to take advantage of St. Joe's on the turnover battle, the Hawks ranking last in the conference in turnover margin (-4.0).

 
MLK DAY

• Holding A-10 basketball games on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was a collaborative idea that began with La Salle men's basketball head coach Ashley Howard and Saint Joseph's men's head coach Billy Lange and was instituted in 2020. The A-10 Commission worked to expand on this idea into a day-long celebration with a triple-header and league-wide programming. The Explorers will honor the legacy of Reverend King with unique warm ups prior to the game.
• Last season, the two teams came together inside Tom Gola arena on this date in a slugfest. La Salle walked out of the gym victorious, garnering a 90-83 win against the Big 5 rivals. Anwar Gill had a career-high 15 points in the win, playing 19 minutes off the bench.

 
A-10 LEADERS

• Clifton Moore has been a force since starting A-10 play. Leading the league in scoring heading into the weekend, Moore is averaging 21.3 points per game against conference foes. The forward has also grabbed 30 rebounds in his last three games, good for third in the league at 10.0 per contest. Moore is shooting 64.7% from the field in that span, the fourth-best mark in league play. Known more for his rim protection entering the season, Moore has 10 blocks in his last three games, the third best average in the Atlantic 10 at 3.3 per game.
• With the absence of Jhamir Brickus in the Explorer lineup over the last few games, Khalil Brantley and Anwar Gill have been required to step up in the backcourt. Gill ranks eighth in league play with 5.0 assists per game, Brantley following just behind at 11th with a 4.7 average. The two combined for 15 assists against the Bonnies.
• After Tuesday night's performance against the Bonnies, Khalil Brantley's eight assists to just one turnover pushed him all the way up to 4th in assist-turnover ratio. Brantley has been dishing 2.8 dimes per turnover in A-10 play.

 
GETTING MORE FROM MOORE

• Clifton Moore has proven himself to be a menace on the defensive side of the ball, ranking 20th in the nation in blocks with 2.83 blocks per game.
• With six blocks against Army West Point, Moore recorded the most blocks in a game since November 20, 2010 when Aaric Murray recorded nine in a 79-74 win over Morgan State. The six blocks is fourth-most in program history.
• Moore put up a highlight reel in defeat to Fordham, knocking down 12-17 attempts from the field for 26 points, besting his career-high by 11 points. The Ambler, Pa. native also added a season-high eight rebounds, five blocks and two steals. It was the third time this season Moore recorded 5+ blocks.
• In Moore's previous three games, the Ambler native has recorded 21.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.3 blocks. Moore's 21/12 effort against VCU was the first double-double of his career, setting a career-high in rebounds. He produced his second-straight 10/10 performance of his career the next time out, tallying 17 and 10 against St. Bonaventure.
• In conference play, Moore has been shooting a staggering 64.3% from the field on 42 attempts, never shooting below 50% as the redshirt senior has stepped up his game. He ranks fourth in the conference, second amongst players who have taken at least 20 attempts.

 
GILL'S GOT GAME

• Anwar Gill's first game of the season saw the sophomore pad the stats. Scoring in double figures, Gill's 10 points were joined with five rebounds, five assists and five steals. The five steals mark a career-high, previously forcing two swipes on six different occasions.
• In his best game of the season for the Explorers, Gill made the most of his first start against FDU. The sophomore collected a career-high nine dimes on the night, tallying five rebounds on an efficient 3-5 night from the field for seven points.
• Since his introduction into the starting lineup, Gill has averaged 6.0 assists per game and has tallied a season-high 12 points in the win over Penn. Gill leads the team in assists, 24 more than the next closest Explorer.

 
HANDING KEYS TO KHALIL

• Freshman backup point guard Brantley registered seven points in his collegiate debut, recording 18 minutes in the loss. His first field goal came from distance to give La Salle a lead late in the first half. The rookie knocked down a circus shot while drawing contact, unable to capitalize on the three-point play however to extend a late Explorer lead.
• Brantley scored a then career-high in his early collegiate career in the win over Army, collecting 12 points - all in the first half.
• The rookie from the Bronx quickly surpassed that tally, scoring 12 points for the second-straight time in the first half against #7 Villanova. Brantley would finish with a game-high 17 points in the defeat.
• Brantley would once again eclipse his previous mark, scoring 18 points in 34 minutes in an A-10 matchup against VCU.
• In his first career start, Brantley nearly went the distance in the overtime defeat to the Bonnies. The rookie played in 42 minutes, scoring 10 points while grabbing a career-high eight assists, five of them in the first half. His 2.8 assist-turnover ratio in the conference ranks fourth amongst the league.

 
PHILLY LIVIN'

• The Explorers spent their nonconference campaign in and around the city of Philadelphia. Only playing three road games before A-10 action, the Explorers traveled no further than Lewisburg, Pa. for any of their away trips.
• The Fordham Rams broke a five-game win streak inside Tom Gola Arena, the only other loss coming in the home opener in overtime to Sacred Heart. Since then, the Explorers have went on a three-game losing streak at home in conference play.
• La Salle will only leave the city twice in its opening 14 games to start the year, next leaving Philly in a mid-January matchup at Rhode Island.

 
SERIES HISTORY

• The Explorers enter Monday's game with an unfavorable history in the series between the Hawks, holding a 54-67 record against St. Joe's since 1934.
• La Salle and Saint Joseph's hold one of the longest and storied rivalries in Explorer history, meeting for the 122nd time since '34.
• The two teams met on three occasions last year, the Hawks winning two of three.
• La Salle defended Gola in the first outing, while St. Joe's protected home turf with an overtime win late in the regular season. The two teams met in the first round of the A-10 tournament, St. Joe's picking up a 72-66 win.
• Under Coach Howard, La Salle is 4-3 against St. Joe's.