Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

Hawks show impressive balance in win over La Salle

    by Marc Narducci
    Published 

This is the type of balance that any team is looking for. In St. Joseph's 75-64 win over La Salle at Tom Gola Arena, all five starters scored in double figures.

Langston Galloway led the way with 18 points, followed by freshman DeAndre' Bembry who had all 16 of his points in the second half, Ronald Roberts Jr. (15), and Halil Kanacevic and Chris Wilson with 10 each.

It was the first time this season that the Hawks had five players reach double figures in a single game.

"Our balance is what makes us go," Galloway said. "Coach (Phil Martelli) stresses getting inside and outside."

Roberts, Kanacevic and Galloway led the way early. At halftime the trio had accounted for 31 points as St. Joseph's took a 36-26 lead.

"Ron and Halil got us going and we got going outside a little bit and finished off going inside and the balance is what made us go," Galloway said.

Then the 6-foot-6 Bembry took over in the second half and was a force on both sides of the ball, which included a stellar defensive job on LaSalle point guard Tyreek Duren. The La Salle senior scored 15 points, but he attempted just nine shots.

"I always try to use my length and get up on him so he can't really get comfortable," Bembry said

This ends what was considered the most challenging six-game stretch in the Hawks schedule. It began with a loss at Richmond, but then the key was a 60-57 victory at Dayton. That followed a 73-68 victory over then nationally ranked UMASS. Following a 65-49 loss to visiting St. Louis, the Hawks then beat VCU 69-62 at Hagan Arena before the win over La Salle.

So going 4-2 over that tough stretch was what has kept the 17-7 Hawks very much in NCAA Tournament consideration.

"We might have looked at the six games decided our fate but it really doesn't," Galloway said. "We have to worry about Rhode Island on Wednesday's and that's all we have."

He is correct.

Yet there will be a little less worrying if the Hawks can achieve the type of scoring balance they displayed against La Salle.