Explorers climbing quickly: La Salle beats Duquesne, continues to move up in A-10

By Mike McDonald
Collegian Editor
February 27, 2008

What a difference a week makes. In a span of seven days, the Explorers have completely turned their 2007-08 season around and established themselves as legitimate contenders in the Atlantic 10.

Mike Dao - Darnell Harris nails the game-winning three in overtime against Dayton Thursday night.

After picking up incredible last-second victories against St. Joseph’s and Dayton, La Salle put its winning streak on the line Sunday for a chance at revenge against Duquesne in Pittsburgh.

This game was no different. In another great contest, the Explorers topped the Dukes, 75-72, and continued their climb in the conference standings, moving into a tie for third place.

“There are very few teams in America that could have won the three games that we won this week,” La Salle head coach Dr. John Giannini said. “We beat three top-100 teams in the RPI in difficult environments and difficult circumstances. I just can’t say enough about our kids.”

On Feb. 9, in these two teams’ first matchup of the season, the Dukes outran and outplayed the Explorers, cruising to a 101-84 win at the Tom Gola Arena. Sunday’s game at the A.J. Palumbo Center got off to a similar start, as the Dukes used their fast-paced attack to jump out to an early lead. They led by eight with nine minutes remaining in the first half.

Then La Salle took over. The Explorers battled back to close the gap, and a Sherman Diaz three-pointer gave La Salle a 29-28 lead with 5:02 left in the half. Duquesne never led again, although they did get awfully close. The halftime score was La Salle 41, Duquesne 34.

“We overcame an outstanding opponent,” Giannini said. “We withstood some serious runs on their part where they would cut the lead down to one or two, or tie it on us, and we fought through a night when no calls were going our way.”

La Salle led by as much as 13 in the second half, but it all came down to the final seconds once again. The Explorers led 73-69 with 28 seconds left to play when Duquesne’s Gary Tucker (who scored a game-high 23 points) pulled up for a three. Diaz stretched out and blocked the shot, but he was whistled for a controversial foul, sending Tucker to the line for three free throws.

Tucker drained all three shots to make it a one-point game. Duquesne sent La Salle senior Darnell Harris to the line, and he knocked down both shots to put the Explorers up by three.

Duquesne had one final chance, as Bill Clark got an open look at a three from the corner, but his shot clanked off the rim, and Paul Johnson secured the rebound and the game for La Salle.

All day long, the Explorers did a great job inside battling against the size of the Dukes. La Salle outrebounded Duquesne 45-37, due in large part to Yves Mekongo Mbala (10 rebounds) and Johnson (seven rebounds).

“We had a lot we had to fight through,” Giannini said. “Our guys responded in every way, shape, and form in terms of their effort. I couldn’t be more proud of them. It’s very hard to single anyone out, from Darnell Harris and Ruben Guillandeaux, who scored critical points for us, to Darryl Partin and Terrell Williams, who made big plays in the first half to give us that halftime lead, and everyone in between did a tremendous job.”

Harris got off to a slow start, but thanks to a strong second half, he was able to put together a nice game. He tallied a team-high 18 points. Guillandeaux had another good showing off the bench, as he scored 17 points (13 of which came in the first half).

“We’re always up for a challenge,” Harris said. “I think the way we’re playing is just tremendous. Everybody’s contributing, one through twelve. Everybody’s giving it their all, and we’re putting it together and coming up with victories.”

Duquesne’s Shawn James had another big day in blocks, though, as he recorded seven rejections on the stat sheet.

Good team defense by the Explorers held Duquesne to just 38.1 percent (24-63) from the field, including a lackluster 20 percent (4-20) from behind the arc.

“We’re finally starting to play together as a team,” Johnson said. “Everybody knows their role; that’s the main thing. We just have to keep it rolling from now on.”

With the win, La Salle improves to 7-5 in the conference (13-13 overall), and Duquesne falls to 6-7 (16-10). The Explorers currently stand in a third-place tie with Richmond and Temple, behind only Xavier and St. Joe’s.

“We have a chance to do some special things in the last three weeks, and I think long-term that people are going to look at La Salle as a place where the transition is over, the rebuilding is over, and we’re getting back to being a good basketball program,” Giannini said.

La Salle will head up to the Bronx Wednesday night for an 8 p.m. showdown with the Fordham Rams. Fordham currently stands in 11th in the A-10, at 5-7.

mcdonaldm2@lasalle.edu