College Hoops: La Salle Welcomes GW to Gola Arena on Wednesday
By Matt Leon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- La Salle snapped a mini (two-game) losing streak on Saturday with a thumping of Rhode Island at Gola Arena, 80-66 (see game story).
Now, the La Salle Explorers will look to make it back-to-back wins on Wednesday night, hosting George Washington University in Atlantic 10 action.
La Salle head coach Dr. John Giannini says he was very pleased with the victory over the Rams.
"They have very good talent, they just haven't had great continuity," Giannini said. "They start two freshmen and two transfers that just got eligible three weeks ago. So they don't have the kind of stability and continuity to be good all the time in this league, but they are very talented and they are going to get some good wins this year, so we were pleased to come out on the right side."
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Most of the talk about La Salle this season has surrounded their four-guard attack. But the big man who rounds out that starting five, freshman Jerrell Wright
, had a big game against Rhode Island, with 17 points and eight rebounds.
Giannini thinks the 6'8" forward has been playing well.
"He was on the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team with the preseason poll, and I just think he is going to have a great career. He's a great kid, he's an outstanding player, but he's learning -- he's a true freshman and he's just going to keep getting better all the time."
That victory over Rhode Island improved La Salle to 14-6 on the season, 3-2 in the A-10 and 10-0 at home.
What do the Explorers need to worry about in this game with the Colonials?
"They have an outstanding point guard in (senior) Tony Taylor, who has really given us trouble in the past," says Giannini, "and I think he got some preseason honors in the Atlantic 10 as well. They have tremendous size, (and) they have guys that can shoot the ball."
Taylor leads the 8-11 Colonials in scoring (13.4 points per game) and assists (80).
La Salle and Rhode Island will tip off at 7:00pm Wednesday night at Gola Arena.
