Another One Slips Away

Good basketball teams don’t give games way after having significant halftime leads. La Salle isn't a good team right now. The Explorers have lost large second half leads twice within the past week. After playing UCONN tough in the opening game of the Paradise Jam they returned to their gift giving ways relinquishing a 17 point second half lead to Southern Mississippi in game two of the tournament.

What was old is now new again. Last year a young La Salle Explorer squad would give up leads in the second half multiple times and watch the losses pile up. Games against Howard and Bucknell come to mind as La Salle would lose double digit second half leads only to lose miserably in the end. After 4 games in what was supposed to be a promising season a dark cloud has once again formed. After sacrificing a 9 point second half lead to Florida State just 4 days ago, the Explorers coughed up a 17 point lead to Southern Mississippi in a game which they dominated at times.

In the first half La Salle would hold the Golden Eagles to just 30% shooting from the field while shooting over 57% themselves building a considerable first half lead. The Explorers would also dominate the glass and entered the locker room up 36-22. A balanced attack led by Rodney Green kept Southern Mississippi from getting close during most of the first half while the Golden Eagles would shoot miserably, including an 0 for 6 clip from long distance. La Salle fans and the team must have thought The Explorers were quickly headed to its first easy victory of the year.

That was not to be. Enter Golden Eagle senior guard Jeremy Wise. After struggling mightily in the first half, Wise would torch La Salle’s defense in the second half drilling three-pointer after three-pointer. He got to the rim for easy baskets at key moments and hurt the Explorers from the free throw line and just become the go to guy La Salle desperately thirsts for. Fueled by Wise and big second half performances from Craig Kraft, and RI Horton, the Eagles would keep La Salle on its heels the entire second half. The Explorers quickly went from the hunter to the hunted.

La Salle was led once again by Rodney Green who collected 22 points but once again returned to turning the basketball over giving it away 5 times. La Salle would gain the lead at the one minute mark as Kimmani Barrett would knock down two free throws. La Salle fans knew it wouldn’t last as the Golden Eagles which finished the second half shooting 52% from the floor and an unbelievable 77% from three-point land and 10 for 10 from the stripe fed the ball to Horton who scored to tie the game. The Explorers got a gift and a chance to win the game when Vernon Goodridge was fouled with just 1.8 seconds remaining. All Goodridge would need was one free throw to win the game but he missed both and the game went into overtime. With all the momentum on their side, Southern Mississippi would outscore La Salle 11-7 in the extra session and the Explorers suffered another self-inflicted heartbreaking loss of the season.

With a team most likely in a state of disbelief, La Salle head coach Dr. John Giannini will need to circle the wagon quickly as the Explorers are back at it and will face Valparaiso on Monday in the 7th place game. The Crusaders lost 75-55 to Iona in the nightcap from last night.

Three Stars of the Game

Third Star: Ruben Guillandeaux
Second Star: Kimmani Barrett
First Star: Rodney Green

ExplorerHoopReport Most Valuable Player Award Standings for the Season

Rodney Green – 7 points
Kimmani Barrett – 5 points
Vernon Goodridge – 4 points
Yves Mekongo Mbala – 3 points
Jerrell Williams – 2 points
Ruben Guillandeaux – 2 points
Paul Johnson – 1 point