2019-20 LA SALLE MEN’S BASKETBALL GAME NOTES 2019-20 MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE GAME 4 • NOVEMBER 25, 2019 • 7:30 PM DATE OPPONENT TIME/RESULT November GULF COAST SHOWCASE • ESTERO, FLA. • HERTZ ARENA Sat. 9 IONA (NBCSN) W, 70-64 (OT) LA SALLE (1-2) VS. Wed. 13 ^ at Penn (ESPN+) L, 59-75 Sat. 16 ^ TEMPLE (ESPN+) L, 65-70 MURRAY STATE (3-1) Mon. 25 @ vs. Murray State 7:30 p.m. TV/Video:FloHoops Tue. 26 @ vs. Weber St./Wright St. TBA Audio: TuneIn Radio/Stretch Internet Wed. 27 @ vs. TBA TBA Kale Beers (PxP) Twitter: @LaSalle_MBB Instagram: @LaSalleMBB December • Sun. 1 ^ at Villanova (FS1) 6:30 p.m. Sat. 7 at Drexel (FloHoops) 2 p.m. Sat. 14 MORGAN STATE (ESPN+) 2 p.m. NEWS & NOTES Wed. 18 WAGNER (ESPN+) 7 p.m. •La Salle men’s basketball returns from a nine-day break to take part in the Gulf Sat. 21 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON (ESPN+) 12 p.m. Coast Showcase in Estero, Fla. on Nov. 25-27. Sat. 28 ! BUCKNELL (ESPN+) 2 p.m. •The Explorers will play Murray State in the opening round of the eight-team event January on Monday, Nov. 25 at Hertz Arena, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thu. 2 * DAYTON (CBSSN) 8:30 p.m. Sun. 5 * at Fordham (ESPN+) 2 p.m. •The winner of the La Salle-Murray State matchup will take on the winner of Wright Wed. 8 * at Massachusetts (ESPN+) 7 p.m. State-Weber State in the semifinals on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Sat. 11 * GEORGE MASON (ESPN+) 2 p.m. Sat. 18 * at Rhode Island (NBCSN) 12:30 p.m. •The title game will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m. Wed. 22 * at Richmond (ESPN+) 7 p.m. •The rest of the field includes Drake, Northeastern, Miami (Ohio) and South Sat. 25 * VCU (NBCSN) 12 p.m. Alabama. Wed. 29 * SAINT LOUIS (ESPN+) 8 p.m. •Freshman Sherif Kenney and junior David Beatty each scored 13 points in La February Salle’s last outing against Big 5 rival Temple, a 70-65 defeat. Sun. 2 * at Duquesne (ESPN+) 2 p.m. Sat. 8 * SAINT JOSEPH’S (NBCSN) 5 p.m. •The Explorers fought back from a deficit and pulled to within four late but could Wed. 12 * RICHMOND (ESPN+) 7 p.m. not get over the hump. Sat. 15 * at Saint Louis (NBCSN) 2:30 p.m. Wed. 19 * FORDHAM (ESPN+) 8 p.m. •Through three games, freshman Ayinde Hikim has been a spark off the bench and Sat. 22 * at George Washington (ESPN+) 4 p.m. is leading the squad in assists (12) and steals (8). Tue. 25 * at Davidson (ESPN+) 7 p.m. Sat. 29 * ST. BONAVENTURE (ESPN+) 2 p.m. SCOUTING MURRAY STATE March •The Racers are coming off an impressive season in 2018-19 which saw them Wed. 4 * MASSACHUSETTS (ESPN+) 7 p.m. Sat. 7 * at Saint Joseph’s (ESPN+) 2 p.m. finish 28-5 and upset Marquette in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Wed. 11- ** Atlantic 10 Championship •Tevin Brown scored 19 points in the victory over the Golden Eagles and leads the Sun. 15 team this season in scoring at 15.3 points per game. Home games in CAPS. •Four different players are averaging in double figures for Murray State -- Brown, ^ Big 5 game * Atlantic 10 Conference game ! Played at The Palestra, Philadelphia, Pa. KJ Williams (13.0 ppg), Anthony Smith (10.8 ppg) and Chico Carter Jr. (10.5 ppg) @ Gulf Coast Showcase, Hertz Arena, Estero, Fla. •Offensively, Murray State is among the national leaders in field-goal percentage ** Played at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y. All Times ET and subject to change. at 49.8% and is outrebounding opponents by nearly 16 per game (44.3-28.8). PROJECTED STARTING FIVE IN RESERVE... 0 Ayinde Hikim ............... Fr., G, 5-11, 165 3 Christian Ray ................Fr., G, 6-6, 200 5 Jack Clark .....................So., G, 6-8, 182 10 Isiah Deas .................... Sr., G, 6-6, 200 12 Kyle Thompson .......... So., G, 5-10, 175 #1 DAVID BEATTY #2 SCOTT SPENCER #4 SHERIF KENNEY #11 ED CROSWELL #23 BRANDON STONE Junior • 6-2 • Guard Junior • 6-6 • Guard Freshman • 6-4 • Guard Sophomore • 6-8 • Forward Freshman • 6-11 • Forward 14 Andrew Lafond........... So., G, 5-10, 150 Philadelphia, Pa. • Suffolk, Va. • Washington, D.C. • Philadelphia, Pa. • Alverton, Pa. • Imhotep Charter Blue Ridge Orr (Ill.) Academy St. Joseph’s Prep Christ School (N.C.) 21 Clifton Moore ............Jr., F/C, 6-10, 220 TEAM LEADERS 13 Saul Phiri ......................Sr., G, 6-4, 215 SCORING REBOUNDING ASSISTS FIELD GOAL % 3-PT. FG % BLOCKS STEALS 24 Jared Kimbrough ...........So., F, 6-8, 220 David Beatty S. Spencer/D. Beatty Ayinde Hikim Ed Croswell Scott Spencer 5 Players Ayinde Hikim 10.0 ppg 5.7 rpg 4.0 apg 56.3% 50.0% 2 8 35 Moustapha Diagne ....... Gr., F, 6-9, 230 22 NBA Players • 5 All-Americans • 12 NCAA Tournament Apperances • 3 National Players of the Year • 1953-54 National Champions QUICK FACTS FRESHMEN PLAY BIG ROLES IN EARLY GOING School: La Salle University •All four of La Salle’s freshmen have played key roles in the early going in 2019-20. Location: Philadelphia, Pa. •Guard Sherif Kenney has started all three contests at point guard and had his best Total Enrollment: 5,210 Founded: 1863 game of the young season against Temple, scoring 13 points and knocking down President: Colleen Hanycz, Ph.D. four three-pointers. Web Site: www.lasalle.edu •Forward Brandon Stone received the first start of his career against the Owls and Athletic Web Site: www.goexplorers.com has shown the ability to knock down shots from the perimeter (4-for-9 from three- Athletic Phone: 215-951-1425 point range). Nickname: Explorers •Lightning-quick guard Ayinde Hikim is averaging 23.7 minutes off the bench Colors: Blue (540) and Gold (7406) through three contests and had 14 points in a road loss at Penn. Home Court/Capacity: Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center (3,400) •The fourth freshman, two-time Inter-Ac Player of the Year from The Haverford School Athletic Director: Brian Baptiste Christian Ray, ranks second on the team in steals (5) and fourth in rebounding (4.3 Senior Associate Athletic Director: John Lyons rpg). Associate Athletic Director: Mary Ellen Wydan Assistant Athletic Director: Phil Snead DAY DAY BRINGS THE PRESSURE •Freshman Ayinde Hikim was a bright spot in La Salle’s loss at Penn on Nov. 13. TEAM INFORMATION •Hikim scored 14 points on an efficient 6-of-8 shooting and led the team in both 2018-19 Record ..................................................... 10-21 steals (4) and assists (3). 2018-19 Conference Record/Finish .......................8-10/9th 2018-19 Postseason ................................................ N/A •The lightning-quick guard used stifling ball pressure to force a number of turnovers Starters Returning/Lost ...........................................3/2 in the second half, allowing La Salle to have an opportunity to get into the game Letterwinners Returning/Lost...................................6/6 late. Newcomers ................................................................. 6 •On the season, Hikim is leading the Explorers in both assists (12) and steals (8) in the early going. COACHING STAFF Head Coach ............................................Ashley Howard Alma Mater ....................................................Drexel ’04 PERFECT 10 Record at La Salle/Years ................................10-21/2nd •In La Salle first two games of the year, head coach Ashley Howard has gone to his Assistant Coach...................................... Kenny Johnson bench with no hesitation. Alma Mater/Years ............................. Maryland ’99/2nd •Ten players -- all 10 scholarship players available to play -- are averaging at least Assistant Coach............................................ Kyle Griffin 15 minutes a game and no player is averaging more than 29.4. Alma Mater/Years ....................................Siena ’11/2nd •The Explorers hold a 82-35 (+15.7/game) edge in bench scoring through two Assistant Coach...........................................Donnie Carr games with senior Isiah Deas averaging 7.3 points per game and freshman Ayinde Alma Mater/Years ................................ La Salle ’00/3rd Hikim at 6.3 ppg. Director of Operations .........................Andrew McGlynn Alma Mater/Years ................................. Towson ’12/3rd EXPLORERS SIGN ANWAR GILL TO NLI PROGRAM HISTORY •A third player from the Nation’s Capital will join the Explorers to begin the 2020- First Year of Competition ................................... 1931-32 21 season as head coach Ashley Howard announced Thursday that Anwar Gill has All-Time Record .................................... 1389-998 (.582) signed a National Letter of Intent. NCAA Appearances ....................................................12 •Joining Ayinde Hikim and Sherif Kenney as Washington, D.C. natives, Gill is a 6-4 NCAA Record ..........................................................14-11 guard who played his high school basketball at perennial power Gonzaga College NIT Appearances ........................................................12 NIT Record .............................................................. 9-11 High School. All-Time Atlantic 10 Record .................156-238/24 Years •Gonzaga won their third WCAC title in five seasons in 2019, with Gill scoring 19 All-Time A-10 Championship Record .......................11-21 points in the title game. •This year, Gill is spending a preparatory season at Montverde Academy in Florida. CREDENTIALS Requests for credentials should be made to Dan Lobacz CROSWELL CORRALS REBOUNDS (215-951-1932/[email protected]) at least one week •Freshman Ed Croswell ranked as one of the top rebounders in the Atlantic 10 last prior to the game. All season passes should be picked season and figures to rank among the leaders again in 2019-20. up at the Press Gate. •Croswell became the first freshman in the NCAA since at least 2010-11 to grab 10 or POST-GAME INTERVIEWS more offensive rebounds in two games during his inaugural college season. La Salle head coach Ashley Howard and selected players •The 6-8 forward corralled 10 offensive boards against both Bucknell (Dec.