Men's Basketball | December 19, 2016

PHILADELPHIA - For the second time this season, La Salle University redshirt junior B.J. Johnson has been named the Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Player of the Week, it was announced by the league on Monday. Johnson also was named the Big 5 Player of the Week.

Johnson scored a career-high 35 points, including 28 in the second half, as the Explorers defeated Florida Gulf Coast, 84-80, on Saturday afternoon at Gola Arena. The versatile wing went 10-for-16 from the field, including 3-of-6 from three-point range, and connected on 12 of his 14 free throw attempts to eclipse his previous career best of 24 points set earlier this season against Texas Southern.

With La Salle trailing 67-61, Johnson knocked down a pair of three-pointers on consecutive offensive possessions to narrow the deficit, then tied the game with a cutting dunk along the baseline with a little more than two minutes remaining. After nabbing his fourth steal of the contest on the next defensive trip, Johnson found teammate Jordan Price for a layup to give the Explorers the lead for good.

On the season, Johnson leads the top scoring team in the Atlantic 10 in scoring at 19.9 points per game (5th in conference), and also paces the squad in rebounding at 5.7 per outing. He ranks in the league's top 10 in field goal percentage (.537, 7th), three-point field goal percentage (.460, 3rd) and free-throw shooting (.870, 4th). 

La Salle (5-4) returns to action on Thursday, Dec. 22 as it travels to Mercer for its final tuneup before Atlantic 10 play begins. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.