La Salle vs. Davidson preview

Second Round, Atlantic 10 Tournament

Thursday, noon at PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh

Records: Eighth-seeded La Salle, 15-14, 9-9 A-10; Ninth-seeded Davidson, 15-14, 8-10.

TV/Radio: NBC Sports Network/Explorers Radio Network (goexplorers.com), online only.

Coaches: La Salle, John Giannini (199-206, 13th season, 492-345 overall); Davidson, Bob McKillop (530-328, 28th season).

Series: Davidson leads, 4-2.

Last meeting: La Salle won on Jan. 19 at home, 91-83.

What to watch: The Explorers struggled in the final month, which had something to do with injuries to Pookie Powell and B.J. Johnson. . . . When their offense gets going. La Salle can play with a bunch of teams. ... La Salle lost twice in the final week on the road by double digits to teams it had beaten at home by double digits. ... Johnson averages 17.5 points, Jordan Price 15 and Powell 13.8 ... The Wildcats get 42-plus points a game from guard Jack Gibbs and forward Peyton Aldridge. . . . They lost three of the last four. Two were in overtime, to regular-season champion Dayton and at NCAA bubble team Rhode Island. ... Last year, Davidson won two games before losing in the semifinals as a six seed. ... The winner draws Dayton in Friday afternoon's quarterfinals.