Boxscore

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA - La Salle finished off its three-game Canada trip with a 66-64 victory over host Carleton on Tuesday night from the Raven's Nest. Senior Earl Pettis led the Explorers with 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting, while sophomore Sam Mills shot 7-for-10 on the way to 17 points. The Ravens have won seven of the last nine Canadian National Championships.

“Holding Carleton to 27 percent shooting in the second half was a perfect ending for a summer tour in which our focus was team defense,” head coach Dr. John Giannini said. “We got experience in two intense games that came down to the last possession.

“The lessons are valuable and numerous,” Giannini continued. “We had some key players not play near their best so it was good to have new guys step up for big stops and handle the ball in pressure situations.”

Freshman Jerrell Wright fell just short of a double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds. He added three blocks. Sophomore Tyreek Duren had eight points.

“The process of becoming a good team is in progress. We have a way to go but I like this team and they like each other,” Giannini said.

LU, which posted a 2-1 record north of the border, shot nearly 61% in the second half to rally back from a 37-33 half-time deficit. Defensively, the Explorers held the Ravens to just 27% shooting in the second half. Carleton was 0-for-6 on two-point field goals and 6-for-16 on three's in the half.

Phillip Scrub led all scorers with 19 for Carleton. Willy Manigat added 11. In addition to Carleton's national success, it has regularly defeated Division I opponents in exhibition action.

In 2008, the Ravens dropped a one-point game to Kansas, which went on to reach the Sweet 16. That season, Carleton defeated Northeastern, South Alabama and Buffalo in exhibition tilts.

The Explorers will open the 2010-11 campaign at home versus Lafayette on November 11 at 7 PM at Tom Gola Arena.

Check back to GoExplorers.com in the next week for a full recap of the Canada trip.