La Salle still winless, now 0-3 after falling at Florida
GAINESVILLE, FLA. >> Senior guard Jalen Hudson led three Florida scorers in double figures with 15 points, lifting the Gators to an 82-69 win over La Salle Wednesday night.
Kevarrius Hayes added 12 points for Florida, going 5 for 5 from the floor, while Keyontae Johnson also scored 12 points.
Florida (2-1) overcame shooting just 23 percent (3-13) from 3-point range by outscoring La Salle 46-32 in the paint.
Florida made nine of its first 14 shots to build an early 19-11 lead and the Gators extended it to as many as 12 points in the first half before taking a 40-32 lead into halftime.
After La Salle guard Traci Carter cut Florida’s lead to 42-35 early in the second half with a 3-pointer, the Gators answered with an 11-0 run. Hayes, who played just five minutes in the first half after picking up two early fouls, scored seven of Florida’s 11 points during the run on three inside baskets. Johnson finished the run with a dunk in transition, putting Florida up 53-35 with 13:40 remaining.
Senior guard Pookie Powell led La Salle (03) with 21 points. The Explorers were playing their first game against Florida since Dec.
18, 1989, a game La Salle won 76-69 behind
33 points from former All-American Lionel Simmons.
BIG PICTURE
LA SALLE >> The Explorers suffered their worst loss of the season after losing their first two games by a combined nine points.
UP NEXT
La Salle will return home to face city rival Drexel on Saturday at 4 p.m.
DREXEL 118, BRYN ATHYN 41 >> Trevor John had career highs with eight 3-pointers and 26 points to lead Drexel to a 118-41 rout of Division III Bryn Athyn for its first win.
John, a 6-foot-3 graduate transfer from Cal Poly, was 8-of-10 shooting from long range and made both free throws. He had a previous career best with six 3s and 19 points in the Dragons’ season-opener against Eastern Michigan.
Jarvis Doles and Zach Walton added 15 points apiece for Drexel (1-2). James Butler had 14 points and three others chipped in 11 apiece for the Dragons, who shot 67 percent (43 of 64) from the floor and made 15 of 29 3-pointers.