Price carries La Salle past Hofstra
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Jordan Price pumped his fist toward the crowd and took off his trademark headband. His work on Long Island was done for the day. Soon he'll be tasked with leading La Salle through the treacherous Atlantic Ten schedule.
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Jordan Price pumped his fist toward the crowd and took off his trademark headband. His work on Long Island was done for the day. Soon he'll be tasked with leading La Salle through the treacherous Atlantic Ten schedule.
Price scored 28 points and tied his season high with seven assists, Cleon Roberts added 18 points, and La Salle earned an 83-74 win at Hofstra on Tuesday.
The Explorers (7-5), who shot a season-high 59 percent from the field, have won three of their last four - with all three wins coming on the road - after a four-game losing streak.
"For us to get wins out of our state and out of our gym, it's just great for us and our chemistry," said Price, a redshirt sophomore who is in his first season with La Salle after transferring from Auburn.
Price, who was named Big Five co-player of the week on Monday, made 10 of 17 shots from the field and 5 of 9 from three-point range. He has scored at least 20 points in six games this season, but coach John Giannini believes the best part of his game is his defense.
"The last thing I talk about is his scoring," Giannini said. "I leave that up to [the media]. . . . But if you score on one end and give up a basket on the other end, it doesn't matter at all. What he's doing is becoming a better player - he's playing defense, he's passing the ball."
Roberts reached his season high in points by making 4 of 6 three-point shots. The Georgia Southern transfer made his third straight start in place of senior D.J. Peterson (ankle).
Philadelphia native Ameen Tanksley led Hofstra (7-4) with 23 points. His three-pointer with 16 minutes, 40 seconds left in the second half closed La Salle's lead to 50-49, but Jerrell Wright (13 points, 10 rebounds) had layups on three straight possessions to make it 56-49.
Hofstra coach Joe Mihalich is a 1978 La Salle alumnus and served as the Explorers' assistant coach from 1981-98.
La Salle wraps up the nonconference portion of its schedule Tuesday with a home game against Big Five rival Penn.