Feb. 8, 2003

Box Score

In a game of spurts, it was La Salle's 19-3 second-half run that was the difference in an 82-74 win over Duquesne at the Palumbo Center.

Duquesne, who trailed by one at the half, scored 11 of the first 13 points of the second half to take a 50-40 lead with 14:39 left. Jimmy Tricco, who finished with a game and career-high 23 points, hit two of his seven 3-pointers to key the run. It was then that La Salle took over.

David Bell, who led La Salle with 20 points, hit a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer to pull the Explorers to within five. Steven Smith's 3-pointer tied the game at 52-52 with 11:54 left. Bell then added a layup and a jumper before Gary Neal capped the run with a 3-pointer to give La Salle a 59-53 lead with 9:50 remaining.

Duquesne managed to cut the lead to five on a Tricco 3-pointer with 5:35 left, but could get no closer as La Salle hit 11-of-15 free throws down the stretch.

DU junior Elijah Palmer (Marshall, Mo. / Marshall / Kennedy-King College) poured in 14 and grabbed nive rebounds, senior Kevin Forney (Philadelphia, Pa. / Philadelphia Christian Academy) added 11 and senior Brad Midgley (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Canevin) 10 points along with four blocked shots. Freshman Bryant McAllister had a team-best five assists and game and career-best five steals.

La Salle, who was 0-of-4 from the 3-point arc in the first half, converted 3-of-8 in the second half. The Explorers dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Dukes 43-26. Neal and Smith added 19 points each for La Salle, with Smith pulling down a game-high 14 rebounds. Jermaine Thomas contributed 13 points and a game and career-best nine assists.

NOTES

• In the first half, Duquesne answered a 12 point La Salle run with a 12-0 run of its own.
• Bryant McAllister posted four of his career-high five steals in the first half,
• Midgley blocked a career-high four shots (all in the first half).
• La Salle outscored Duquesne from the foul line 31-15.

POSTGAME QUOTES

Duquesne head coach Danny Nee