Game 14: GMU (11-2 / 0-0) at La Salle (9-4 / 0-0) on Wednesday, January 3, at 6:30 PM.

[Patriotsince81]

The game is on ESPN+.

La Salle was picked to finish last in preseason A10 polls. Khalil Brantley was a second team preseason all-conference selection.

KenPom: Gives GMU a 58% chance of winning.
GMU - 103
La Salle - 193
NET:
Mason - 76
La Salle - 170

We are 8-3 (.727) against La Salle all-time.

La Salle is currently 9-4 on the season and 0-0 in A10 play. They are 7-1 at home, 1-3 on the road, and 1-0 at neutral sites.

Wins: Drexel (67-61), Northeastern (79-74), Bucknell (69-57), Southern Indiana (79-78), Coppin St. (81-62), Penn (93-92 OT), Loyola Md. (62-61), Lafayette (67-51), Rosemont College (107-41),
Losses: #9 Duke (95-66), Temple (93-92 in 3 OT), #24 Miami (84-77), Howard (71-66)

Schedule: https://goexplorers.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule
Roster: https://goexplorers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
Stats: https://goexplorers.com/documents/2023/12/22/Season_Stats.pdf

Stats are not 100% up to the minute as the Howard loss is not reflected. I’ll update soon. La Salle is led by 6’1” Khalil Brantley (16.0 ppg & 5.2 reb), 5’11” Jhamir Brickus (14.3 ppg), 6’4” Anwar Gill (11.3 ppg), and 6’5” Daeshon Shepherd (10.8 ppg & 5.8 reb). 6’10” Rokas Jocius (7.7 ppg) rounds out the starting 5 for the Explorers. 6’5” Andres Marrero (8.5 ppg) and 6’8” Tunde Vahlberg Fasas (5.6 ppg) average double figure minutes off the bench for La Salle.

La Salle averages 78.8 points per game while giving up 74.6. The Explorers shoot 44.2% from the floor and 35.9% from 3. Opponents are shooting 44.4% from the field and 33.8% from 3. They shoot 72.4% from the free throw line. The Explorers are being out rebounded by their opponents by 3.2 boards per game. They average 10.3 turnovers per game.

My prediction: We’ve shown we can win on the road under Coach Skinn and our success continues. GMU 70 - La Salle 67.

Discuss.

 

[FlPatriot]

Mason 70
LaSalle 60

We continue our good play.

 

[GreenLantern]

Us 75
Them 63
OT

 

[tblack33]

Getting into the landmine games. I don’t think we have an at large chance right now, but if we want to develop into the conversation we can’t lose against the La Salles of the world.

Mason by 15.

 

[mkaufman1]

I’m not signing up for any expectations unless mason starts the a10 season 3-0 which includes a home win over vcu. I think the season has been awesome so far but the fork in the road for me is that vcu game. Not because it’s vcu, but because that will be an opportunity to show that mason is a legit contender to the league.

Show me that we don’t fall to lesser conference teams, hold serve at home. Even a 9-9 conference record would be a 20 win season this year which for year 1, would be good for year 1. Depending on who we beat, we can stick in the top 100, which would be great.

Like everyone else, I want more than that but I hesitate because I haven’t seen us against the league yet.

As far as this game, Lasalle isn’t good, but conference games are never easy. We generally do okay against them. I hate that we have to listen to their middle school low major broadcast if we want to watch the game on Wednesday. Brickhus and Brantley seem like they’ve been around forever. They are talented but generally all Lasalle ever has.

We take this one. Excited for Wednesday and for league play to get started. Until then happy new year everyone.

Mason 75
Lasalle 67.

 

[GMUgemini]

This game scares me because La Salle has three really good guards who can light it up from 3 and if there is an Achilles Heel so far in this team it is 3-point defense.

On the flip side, I think they’re going to have a hell of a time guarding both our 4s (Hall but especially Newton). Hopefully Polite continues his solid play and we ride our advantage at the 4 for the win.

 

[thebiasedannouncer]

This is really going to come down to the Kelly v Jocius matchup at the 5- If Amari can get Jocius in foul trouble quickly, La Salle doesn't have much in terms of a genuine backup at the 5. This should be a game where we use our dominating paint presence and keep them as quiet at the three line as possible and this should be a 8-12 point W- but I always hate going to Olney and Dunphy will have this guys coached- cannot underestimate.

 

[jessej]

Mason 69
LaSalle 67

 

[phoenix-arizona]

Hope to be wrong, but I can see an early conference road game being an L.

 

[GMU79]

Hope to be wrong, but I can see an early conference road game being an L.

Noooooo!

 

[hoopsjunkie75]

Hope to be wrong, but I can see an early conference road game being an L.

He's just bringing an umbrella to ensure that it doesn't rain!

 

[JimP]

From reading their boards, it sounds like GMU oughta have an edge down low.

 

[tblack33]

This is really going to come down to the Kelly v Jocius matchup at the 5- If Amari can get Jocius in foul trouble quickly, La Salle doesn't have much in terms of a genuine backup at the 5. This should be a game where we use our dominating paint presence and keep them as quiet at the three line as possible and this should be a 8-12 point W- but I always hate going to Olney and Dunphy will have this guys coached- cannot underestimate.

Largely agree, I think we matchup well down low. Think the key to this one defensively is limiting either Brickus or Brantley. You can survive one having a good night, but if they are both on it gets a lot tougher to beat them. Will be interested to see who we lineup Billups on.

 

[Where's the party?]

Staying on the bandwagon - I think this game will be about Kelly's matchup advantage and him hitting his free throws. Also looking forward to seeing how our size at the guard positions does against A10 guards.

Tony's Pit Bulls - 68
Exploration Unhinged - 60

 

[DRK331]

Darius Maddox played in the ACC, he will be fine

 

[Pablo]

La Salle has 7 international players on its roster:


Guard 6'5" 200 lbs
0

ANDRÉS MARRERO​

Redshirt Sophomore Caracas, Venezuela Upper Room Christian School (N.Y.)




Guard 6'2" 160 lbs
10

JORGE SANCHEZ-RAMOS​

Sophomore Torrelodones, Spain GBA Academy




Forward 6'8" 210 lbs
14

EFE TAHMAZ​

Freshman Istanbul, Turkey Smartanac




Guard/Forward 6'6" 170 lbs
25

LUCAS MERCANDINO​

Sophomore Córdoba, Argentina IPEM 21 Alfonsina Storni




Forward 6'9" 235 lbs
31

MILOS KOVACEVIC​

Junior Belgrade, Serbia Sagemont (Fla.) Highland Community College (Ill.)




Guard/Forward 6'8" 210 lbs
34

TUNDE VAHLBERG FASASI​

Freshman Stockholm, Sweden Hoosac School (N.Y.)




Forward 6'10" 260 lbs
35

ROKAS JOCIUS​

Sophomore Kaunas, Lithuania Vilniaus Perlas Energija

 

[GMU79]

La Salle has 7 international players on its roster:


Guard 6'5" 200 lbs
0

ANDRÉS MARRERO​

Redshirt Sophomore Caracas, Venezuela Upper Room Christian School (N.Y.)




Guard 6'2" 160 lbs
10

JORGE SANCHEZ-RAMOS​

Sophomore Torrelodones, Spain GBA Academy




Forward 6'8" 210 lbs
14

EFE TAHMAZ​

Freshman Istanbul, Turkey Smartanac




Guard/Forward 6'6" 170 lbs
25

LUCAS MERCANDINO​

Sophomore Córdoba, Argentina IPEM 21 Alfonsina Storni




Forward 6'9" 235 lbs
31

MILOS KOVACEVIC​

Junior Belgrade, Serbia Sagemont (Fla.) Highland Community College (Ill.)




Guard/Forward 6'8" 210 lbs
34

TUNDE VAHLBERG FASASI​

Freshman Stockholm, Sweden Hoosac School (N.Y.)




Forward 6'10" 260 lbs
35

ROKAS JOCIUS​

Sophomore Kaunas, Lithuania Vilniaus Perlas Energija

That's a bunch. Kinda scares me too. Those guys tend to be very disciplined and fundamentally sound.

 

[HoopsAdmin]

That's a bunch. Kinda scares me too. Those guys tend to be very disciplined and fundamentally sound.

Only three of them average more than 10 mins per game and each only 5 to 8 PPG. Not too worried about them, unless they get hot from the outside.

Andres Marrero G
Rokas Jocius F
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi G

Jocius will likely match up with Amari Kelly and Malik Henry. Hopefully we can get him in foul trouble.

 

[Old Man]

La Salle has 7 international players on its roster:


Guard 6'5" 200 lbs
0

ANDRÉS MARRERO​

Redshirt Sophomore Caracas, Venezuela Upper Room Christian School (N.Y.)




Guard 6'2" 160 lbs
10

JORGE SANCHEZ-RAMOS​

Sophomore Torrelodones, Spain GBA Academy




Forward 6'8" 210 lbs
14

EFE TAHMAZ​

Freshman Istanbul, Turkey Smartanac




Guard/Forward 6'6" 170 lbs
25

LUCAS MERCANDINO​

Sophomore Córdoba, Argentina IPEM 21 Alfonsina Storni




Forward 6'9" 235 lbs
31

MILOS KOVACEVIC​

Junior Belgrade, Serbia Sagemont (Fla.) Highland Community College (Ill.)




Guard/Forward 6'8" 210 lbs
34

TUNDE VAHLBERG FASASI​

Freshman Stockholm, Sweden Hoosac School (N.Y.)




Forward 6'10" 260 lbs
35

ROKAS JOCIUS​

Sophomore Kaunas, Lithuania Vilniaus Perlas Energija

I bet they save a ton of NIL money recruiting like that.

 

[Yossarian]

I have no news to share. I just like the way this list looks.