City of Basketball Love

Will Slover (@WillSlover31)
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With Davidson holding a five-point lead and out on the fast break near the end of the first half, it looked like the Wildcats were going to extend their lead and begin to run away with the game.

Until B.J. Johnson soared out of nowhere to meet Jack Gibbs at the rim and send Gibbs’ shot flying off of the backboard, much to the liking of the La Salle faithful.

Johnson’s block sparked a huge run for La Salle to close out the period, and the delighted crowd saw the Explorers take a nine-point lead into the half.

La Salle held onto its lead despite a late push from Davidson to top the Wildcats and win its fifth game in a row by a score of 91-83 at Tom Gola Arena on Thursday night.

The 16-2 run over the final four minutes of the first half was a key for the Explorers, as it gave La Salle (11-5, 5-1 Atlantic 10) its largest lead of the contest going into the half, but it would not have been as special if it weren’t for the efforts of Jordan Price and Pookie Powell.

Powell’s drive and bucket with just under a minute to go extended La Salle’s lead to six and then a deep three-pointer from Price just before the buzzer sounded really put things out of reach for Davidson (9-8, 2-4 Atlantic 10), as the closest the Wildcats came La Salle from that point on was three points.

“The two-for-one at the end of the half was really key,” La Salle head coach John Giannini said. “Pookie’s drive was a setup to set up the two-for-one and Jordan’s shot was just take three-four dribbles at the hash mark and throw up a prayer but that was just Jordan’s talent."

The deep three to end the half wasn’t the only time Price’s talent was on display on Thursday, as the redshirt senior finished with a season-high of 29 points on 9-of-14 shooting to go along with six rebounds.

“I thought I played pretty good, but I could play better,” Price said. “Overall, it was a good team effort tonight. I think we all did well tonight and we came out with the win.”

Also of note for the Explorers in their win was their ability to share the ball and play together as three other La Salle players accompanied Price in reaching double-figures in the scoring column.

“I feel like our chemistry has always been great,” Price said. “We're always brothers on and off the court and when off the court translates to on the court, that’s what you’re seeing right now.”

Also finishing in double figures for La Salle were Johnson, Powell, and Amar Stukes as the trio finished with 19, 14, and 12, respectively.

Beating a Davidson team who has had great success against Giannini’s Explorers in the previous seasons was a prominent win for La Salle, as this was the first time La Salle topped the Wildcats since Davidson joined the Atlantic 10 prior to the 2013-14 season.

“We’re thrilled. Davidson is one of the toughest outs you’ll face as a coach,” Giannini said. “It’s an elusive win and we’re glad that we got it.”

Davidson was led by its standout duo of Peyton Aldridge and Gibbs, who both rank in the top three in the Atlantic 10 in scoring.

“Aldridge and Gibbs are stunning,” Giannini said. “They’re as good as there is. That was amazing.”

Aldridge led Davidson with a game-high of 33 points while also reeling in a game-high of nine rebounds, while Gibbs scored 25 points and also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out four assists.

This win marks the fifth in a row for the Explorers and keeps them in a two-way tie for second place in the Atlantic 10 with Dayton, whom they lost to to start off conference play.

Giannini attributes the Explorer’s recent strength to the team’s getting used to each other, as three key parts of La Salle’s attack, Powell, Johnson and starting center Demetrius Henry, were all sidelined last year due to NCAA transfer regulations.

“Whatever you do, I just think you get better the more you do it,” Giannini said. “Not everyone played last year and it's just the benefit of experience and being comfortable and figuring out how to win. Winning is really, really hard.”

Although having so much success early on in conference play would make some teams look ahead and think about what could be when March rolls around, La Salle faces its toughest task of conference play in its next contest as the Explorers will take on VCU, whose 14-5 overall record is the best in the Atlantic 10, on the road on Sunday.

“I would allow myself (to look ahead) if VCU would allow it,” Giannini said. “I don’t think VCU is going to be so kind. I don’t think VCU is going to look ahead. I think they’re going to look to take our heads off and we should be worried about that.”