PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men’s basketball team used a 14-3 run during a three-minute stretch in the middle of the second half and held off James Madison in the final minutes to win 92-83 on Saturday afternoon at Tom Gola Arena.
The game was part of Homecoming festivities on campus and also La Salle’s first game of the Philly Hoop Group Classic.
“I’m just thrilled with the game,” head coach John Giannini said. “James Madison was a tough team… I’m happy with the team and that 10 guys contributed today.”
Freshman Jerrell Wright added his first double-double with a career-high 14 points and a team-leading 12 boards in 21 minutes of play.
Sophomore Tyreek Duren added a game-high tying 23 points. Classmate Sam Mills added 18 points. Senior Earl Pettis rounded out La Salle’s double-figure scorers with 15 points.
For James Madison, A.J. Davis posted 23 points.
La Salle improves to 2-1 on the season, while the Dukes even their record at 1-1.
Both teams were even in rebounding with 39 each. The Explorers shot .492 during the game and held the Dukes to .451 shooting.
With just under 10 minutes remaining in the game and the Explorers holding on to a 53-51 lead, La Salle got hot from downtown to put some distance between themselves and the Dukes.
Duren connected on two consecutive treys and then a long jumper to give the Explorers a 61-54 edge. Mills added a three of this own as La Salle extended its lead to 10.
Wright converted on an and 1 play to cap the 14-3 run by the Explorers and put the squad up 67-54, its largest lead of the second half.
“I think that was big,” said Duren of his scoring stretch. “Coach Giannini said the leaders didn’t come on in the clutch [against Villanova], so that was good for us today.”
James Madison didn’t get closer than six during the final minutes and began to foul in the final two minutes as the Explorers closed out the victory.
The Explorers had taken a 39-33 lead into the break. They established a good rhythm early in the contest, shooting over 55 percent, to take a 19-8 lead with 11:10 remaining in the first half.
However, the Dukes used a 10-0 run to take a 20-19 lead with 7:48 to go before the break.
Wright broke the scoring drought for La Salle by hitting a pair of free throws. After James Madison’s Davis missed his and-1, Wright hit a jumper to put La Salle back on top 24-22.
La Sale closed out the first half on a 6-0 run.
The 92 points are the most scored by the Explorers since a 92-75 victory on December 17, 2008 against Rider. The win marks Giannini’s 100th while at La Salle.
La Salle will travel to play #9 Pittsburgh on Tuesday evening in its second game of the Philly Hoop Classic. Tip-off is set for 7 PM and the game will be broadcast online at ESPN3.com.
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