La Salle earns tough victory

THIS WAS a test of nerves. When you are heavily favored and you are home and your opponent has played a near-perfect game for 33 minutes, you have two choices: Give in to the moment and congratulate the other team or play defense as if any point you allow might cost you the game.

La Salle chose the latter last night at Gola Arena, and Delaware State, so good for so long, did not score a single point in the game's final 7 1/2 minutes. The Explorers had the lead for exactly 65 seconds. It was the right 65 seconds.

With Delaware State's lead stuck at 61-59 for 3 1/2 minutes, Explorers big shot Ruben Guillandeaux was in the right spot. When Marques Oliver blocked Earl Pettis' layup attempt, Pettis got the ball back and out to Guillandeaux at the three-point line. The senior did not hesitate. His three ball was pure, and La Salle had its first lead of the game. Two more defensive stops and three Tyreek Duren free throws later, La Salle had a lives-flashed-before-their eyes, 65-61 win.

"I'll tell you that's one of the most gratifying wins that I've ever had, because it seemed like things were definitely going against us," La Salle coach John Giannini said. "They are a maddening team to have to play against. I knew this when I scheduled them. This guy [Greg Jackson] is truly a great coach. Won a national championship at North Carolina Central."

La Salle hoops can sometimes lend itself to a few of those mystery-of-life questions, such as: How can a team have nearly twice as many turnovers (nine) as misses (five) in a first half?

The Explorers (5-2) trailed at the break, 39-31, despite shooting 73.7 percent. How? They had seven turnovers on their first 13 quite aimless possessions, could not get to the Hornets' shooters and could not keep their smaller opponents off the offensive glass.

While Delaware State had played an eclectic schedule, it was clear the Hornets (2-2) knew how to play. They beat Division II Washington Adventist by seven, lost at Maryland by 18, and survived Division III Philadelphia Biblical by 62.

You can watch thousands of games this season and you will not see a better-coached team. Jackson's team played a beautiful passing game on offense and did not shoot until the shot-clock buzzer was imminent. Yet, it was never called for a shot-clock violation, and it got good shots for the most part.

"These guys are the most disciplined team you'll see," Giannini said.

Delaware State stretched out that halftime lead to 47-33. La Salle went zone. That worked for a few possessions. Then, it didn't. Every time the Explorers looked as if they would get close, Delaware State had something for them.

Until La Salle defended every possession for all 35 seconds. The Explorers trailed, 61-53, with those 7 1/2 minutes left. Del State was 0-for-7 and had three late turnovers on its final 10 possessions.

And La Salle had Guillandeaux.

"It's the best look I got all night," Guillandeaux said.

And there was no hesitation.

"I love these moments," Guillandeaux said. "It doesn't get me nervous or anything."

It showed.

Guillandeaux did not start because of a minor injury. Aaric Murray played only 8 first-half minutes because of two fouls and found it hard to get the ball because of the Hornets' sagging zone, which always seemed to surround him.

"It mentally wears you down," Guillandeaux said of the Hornets' style.

He described it as "really annoying to play against."

Teams with willpower find a way to overcome. And La Salle did that - finally and barely.

The Hornets' Desi Washington (17 points) did not look as if he would ever miss, hitting his first six shots, including five treys. Finally, freshman Sam Mills, the Explorers' designated stopper, forced him to miss one and was in such a perfect spot that Washington's attempted tying shot with 4 seconds left was an airball.

"To our players' credit, they didn't quit, they didn't get flustered, they hung in there," Giannini said.

And they would not let the Hornets score when one more hoop probably ends it.

La Salle got a perfect game from Steve Weingarten off the bench (11 points, 4-for-4, 1-for-1 from the arc, 2-for-2 from the foul line). Duren had nine points, seven assists and those clinching free throws.

Giannini wanted to play Delaware State because of its unique style.

"The first thing [assistant] Harris Adler told me after the game was, 'We're never scheduling them again,' " Giannini said.

And that was said with the utmost respect. Delaware State deserved it. And La Salle earned it. *