Jan. 16, 2007

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - La Salle displayed its outstanding talent and depth in a 78-59 men's basketball win over visiting New Jersey Institute of Technology Tuesday night.

The Explorers, who have five freshmen and two sophomores in their 10-man, five-at-a-time platoon system, may lack only experience and size (only three men taller than 6-foot-6) to compete at the top of their conference (the Atlantic 10, typically among the nation's best).

La Salle finished with three double-figure scorers, led by high-flying freshman swingman Rodney Green's 18 points. The other double-figure scorers are also freshmen. Ruben Guillandeaux scored 12 points and Yves Mekongo Mbala added 10.

NJIT's Kraig Peters shared game scoring honors with a team-leading 18 points and senior guard Clayton Barker netted 16 for the Highlanders.

The home team controlled the backboards against an NJIT team which usually does well in that category. La Salle had a 44-25 rebounding advantage, as Mekongo Mbala, Green and sophomore Paul Johnson all had eight rebounds for La Salle. The aggressive Explorers had 17 offensive rebounds. Peters led NJIT with eight rebounds.

Peters led NJIT in steals (3) and Barker had three assists and one turnover in 35 minutes. The La Salle leader, with five in each category, was Green.

La Salle, with exceptional athletic ability and basketball skills, exhibited both from the outset and jumped, literally, to a 10-2 lead that included three dunks in the first four minutes.

The Explorers dominated the first 15 minutes, building a 35-15 lead after Darnell Harris nailed a three-point basket with 4:39 left in the first half. La Salle still led by 20 after Harris hit another three with 2:49 left, but the Highlanders outscored the home team, 9-2, the rest of the way and trailed at halftime, 44-31.

Barker finished the first half with 14 points for NJIT and Peters had 11. The Highlanders shot 5-for-11 on three-pointers, as Peters hit all three of his tries and Barker made two.

For La Salle, Green scored 11 points and Mekongo Mbala and Harris each had eight points at the break.

La Salle led by as many as 17 points early in the second half, but NJIT fought back and closed the deficit down to eight, 58-50, after Peters made two free throws with 10:41 left in the game. Peters' points capped a 6-0 burst in just over a minute.

The Explorers answered NJIT's challenge, removing all doubt with a 14-2 run over the next 6:07.

NJIT will have a week off before returning to action on January 23 at 7 pm in the Times-Union Center in Albany, NY, against another strong opponent, Siena. The teams met earlier this season in Newark and the Saints prevailed, 64-40, on November 27.