PHILADELPHIA – A storied Big 5 rivalry takes center stage on the Main Line as the La Salle men's basketball team (1-1) travels to Finneran Pavilion to battle Villanova (1-1) on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. on TruTV.
Five Explorers scored in double figures to lift La Salle to an 88-80 homecoming win over LIU last Saturday. Trailing 57-55 midway through the second half, the Explorers sparked a decisive 10-0 run to seize control for good. La Salle's defense forced 17 turnovers with 14 steals in the contest, and the Explorers also had a 25-5 edge in fast-break points.
Through two games, the Explorers are averaging 71.5 points, 35.5 rebounds, and 16.0 assists per contest while shooting 35.0% from the field and 70.6% at the free-throw line. Defensively, La Salle generates 10.0 steals and 3.5 blocks per outing, converting opponent mistakes into 14 points off turnovers.
La Salle dished out 21 assists on 28 made field goals in the victory over LIU, its highest assist total against a Division I opponent since the team recorded 22 assists in an 82-72 win against Bucknell on Dec. 6, 2022.
The Explorers rely heavily on 3-point shooting, ranking among the nation's most active perimeter teams. As of Nov. 8, La Salle leads the Atlantic 10 and ranks 24th in the NCAA with 33.5 attempts per game from beyond the arc. More than half of the Explorers' total field goal attempts have come from 3-point territory. La Salle averages 10.5 3-pointers made per game, the fifth most in the A10.
Living up to its "Rebound That Jawn" motto, La Salle crashes the offensive glass relentlessly to create second-chance opportunities. The Explorers are pulling down 14.5 offensive rebounds per game, the second most in the A10.
Senior guard Kam Burton leads the Atlantic 10 and ranks 40th nationally with 20 3-point attempts (as of Nov. 8). He is averaging 13.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game while shooting 35.0% (7-for-20) from beyond the arc. All seven of Burton's made field goals this season have come from 3-point territory. He led the Explorers with 15 points, including four 3-pointers, at Houston, and he recorded 11 points (3-of-8 from 3-point range) and four rebounds in the win against LIU.
Senior forward Anthony Finkley is averaging 12.5 points, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 57.1% from the field and 55.6% (5-for-9) from 3-point range across two starts. He broke out in the homecoming win over LIU, pacing the Explorers with 19 points on an efficient 6-for-8 shooting night (3-for-4 from deep, 4-for-4 at the free-throw line) and recording three rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Redshirt junior guard Rob Dockery and sophomore guard Devin Booker helped fuel La Salle's homecoming victory over LIU. Dockery recorded 18 points, six rebounds, and seven assists, matching his career high, in 30 minutes. Booker sparked the second-half surge, scoring 10 of his 13 points in the final 20 minutes of the game. Against Villanova last season, Dockery tallied 13 points and led the team with eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals in 33 minutes off the bench.
As of Nov. 8, senior center Bowyn Beatty ranks third in the A10 and 42nd in the NCAA with four offensive rebounds per game. In 13 minutes against LIU, the 7-footer recorded five points and hauled in a team-high eight rebounds.
Graduate student forward Noah Collier finished with 10 points and five rebounds in 22 minutes against LIU.
