NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – The La Salle men’s basketball team was efficient on offense and stingy on defense in defeating Central Connecticut State, 85-59, on Thursday night at Detrick Gym. Freshman Jerrell Wright scored a career-high 21 points and added nine rebounds in the victory.
“I think he’s absolutely going to be a great player for us and I think today was a step in the right direction,” head coach Dr. John Giannini said.
Wright shot 9-for-14 from the field and had three assists in his best collegiate game.
Junior Ramon Galloway shot 6-for-7 from the field, including making all three three-pointers, for 15 points. Three other Explorers—sophomore Sam Mills (12 points), sophomore Tyreek Duren (10 points) and senior Devon White (10 points) also reached double-figures.
While the offense was efficient, shooting 56.5% from the field and 50% from three-point range, the defense continued to clamp down on the opposition.
The Explorers (8-4), who have won six of their last seven contests, held Central Connecticut to 59 points, 18 points less than its season average.
The Blue Devils (5-6) were playing without leading scorer Ken Horton (22.5 ppg.), one of three players that average at least 19 ppg. for CCSU. Kyle Vinales, the leading freshman scorer in the nation at 20.6 ppg.,, scored 18 points but shot just 8-for-21 from the floor. Thirteen of his points came after halftime once the game was decided.
Robby Ptacek, who averaged 19.1 ppg. coming in, shot 4-for-15 for 14 points. Adonis Burbage had 12 points.
“We are committed to defense and the players know that we need to defend if we are going to win,” Giannini said.
The Explorers took control of the game from the opening tip, scoring the first seven points of the game. CCSU scored the next five points to make it 7-5 but a 17-2 run for La Salle over the next four minutes broke the game open. The lead reached 52-22 at halftime on Duren’s buzzer-beating layup.
The 52 points were the second most scored by La Salle in a half this season after the 53 points against James Madison in the second half.
After struggling from three-point range on Monday at Delaware, shooting 2-for16, the Blue and Gold made six of its first seven three’s and finished the first half shooting 7-for-11 from long-range. LU cooled off in the second half, going 1-for-5, but did shoot 8-for-16 for the game.
The Explorers will take a week off before hosting Boston University on Thursday, December 29. Tip-off is set for 7 PM. Fans that buy one ticket can get one free.
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