Men's Basketball | February 17, 2023

FAIRFAX, Va. - The La Salle men's basketball team has its sights set on winning its sixth game in a row for the first time in 17 years on Saturday when it faces George Mason in a pivotal Atlantic 10 game at EagleBank Arena. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.
 
The game will be televised on ESPN+. Explorers fans can also listen to the broadcast through GoExplorers.com/watch., with Kale Beers delivering the play-by-play. In addition, Explorers fans can follow the team on Twitter @LaSalle_MBB and Instagram @lasallembb.
 
There will also be a pre-game reception at Oh George! Tables and Taphouse. Click here to register for the free pre-game reception.
 
NEWS & NOTES

• The Explorers (13-13, 7-6 A-10) are coming off a 68-62 victory against Richmond at home on Wednesday night to win their fifth straight game, which is the longest winning streak currently in the A-10 and the first time they have achieved that feat in A-10 play since 2017 when won five games from Jan. 4-19. The Explorers are currently sixth in the conference standings.
• In the Richmond game, Hassan Drame scored a game-high 16 points in the second half after making a career-high four 3-pointers and Fousseyni Drame posted a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds.
• During this streak, the Explorers also topped George Washington (75-64), Saint Joseph's (73-65), St. Bonaventure (76-70), and UMass (86-72) respectively. The Explorers have averaged 75.6 points per game and allowed only 66.6 per game.  
• The Explorers will try to win their sixth straight game for the first time since 2006, when they won seven in a row from Jan. 29-Feb. 18 of that year.
• The Explorers have three players averaging close to double figures in Khalil Brantley, Josh Nickelberry, and Fousseyni Drame. The threesome has combined for 34.1 points per game, with Brantley scoring 14.1 per game, Nickelberry chipping in 10.8 per contest, and Fousseyni adding 9.2 per game.
• The Explorers are led by head coach Fran Dunphy, the all-time winningest coach in Philadelphia Big 5 history. A 1970 La Salle graduate, Dunphy sports a 593-338 career record and a 336-135 mark in conference games.

SERIES HISTORY

• Saturday's contest is the 11th meeting between the Explorers and the Patriots.
• The matchup between La Salle and George Mason dates back to 2014, with George Mason leading the series at 7-3.
• The Explorers won all three of their games against the Patriots at Tom Gola Arena.
• The Explorers will look to win their first game at George Mason in the series. La Salle is 0-5 against the Patriots at George Mason.

DOUBLE THE DRAME, DOUBLE THE EXPERIENCE

• Transfers Fousseyni and Hassan Drame will continue to rely on their experience from last season. That's because the twin forwards helped Saint Peter's make history last season by becoming the first 15th seed to reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
• Fousseyni led Saint Peter's with 6.4 rebounds per game while also adding 6.9 points per contest in 33 games. In the Peacock's Elite Eight game against North Carolina, Fousseyni produced 12 points and seven rebounds.
• Hassan averaged 7.25 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.25 assists per game during the NCAA Tournament.  In Saint Peter's win over Murrary State in the Second Round, Hassan poured in eight points and added eight rebounds.
• Hassan and Fousseyni have performed well so far this season for the Explorers.
• Fousseyni has scored 240 points, including a career-high 24 against Saint Joseph's. Fousseyni is also ranked 11th in the A-10 in offensive rebounds per game at 2.2, tied for 13th in the conference in blocks per game at 0.9, and 18th in rebounds per game (5.6).
• Hassan has scored 168 points, 16 of which came in La Salle's win over Richmond. Hassan scored all 16 points in the second half and made a career-high four 3-pointers in the win.

SCOUTING GEORGE MASON

• The Patriots enter the game at 15-12 and 7-7 in A-10 play after beating George Washington, 66-53, on Wednesday on the road. The win was their second win in a row after they also topped Rhode Island, 75-67, at home.
• The Patriots' five other wins in conference play were against Richmond (62-58), Loyola Chicago (86-75), Davidson (67-65), Rhode Island (79-72), and UMass (70-59), respectively.
• The Patriots are 5-2 in A-10 play at EagleBank Arena and 12-2 overall at home this season.
• The Patriots have four players averaging double figures in scoring in Josh Oduro, Victor Bailey Jr., Ronald Polite III, and DeVon Cooper. Oduro leads the team with 15.5 points per game, Bailey Jr. follows him at 11.8 points per game, Polite III is next with 10.7, and Cooper has added 10.5.
• George Mason is led by Kim English, who is in his second season as head coach for the Patriots. A former NBA player and an assistant coach at Tennessee, English has a 29-28 career record overall.