Local college basketball preview
Saint Joseph's (5-14, 0-5 Atlantic 10) vs. La Salle (9-11, 1-4) When: 7 o'clock Where: Palestra Radio: WHAT (1340-AM) Notes: The Explorers are coming off one-point road win at Rhode Island. Sophomore Aaric Murray's three-point play and blocked shot put La Salle over the top. The Hawks have lost seven consecutive games and 13 of 15. Sophomore Carl Jones is the Hawks' lead
Saint Joseph's (5-14, 0-5 Atlantic 10) vs. La Salle (9-11, 1-4)
When: 7 o'clock
Where: Palestra
Radio: WHAT (1340-AM)
Notes: The Explorers are coming off one-point road win at Rhode Island. Sophomore Aaric Murray's three-point play and blocked shot put La Salle over the top. The Hawks have lost seven consecutive games and 13 of 15. Sophomore Carl Jones is the Hawks' leading scorer (17.5), and freshman Langston Galloway is averaging 11.3 points and a team-best 6.1 rebounds. Freshman C.J. Aiken leads the Atlantic 10 in blocked shots with 72.
Charlotte (9-10, 1-4 A-10) at Temple (13-5, 3-2)
When: 7 o'clock
Where: Liacouras Center
TV: Comcast Network
Radio: None
Notes: The Owls have won 16 straight at home. They are coming off an 88-77 loss at Xavier. Junior Scootie Randall had a career-high 28 points for Temple. Junior Ramone Moore has scored in double-figures in 13 straight games. Charlotte has three players averaging double-figures: junior guard Derrio Green (13.3), sophomore guard Jamar Briscoe (13.0) and sophomore Chris Braswell (10.5).
No. 8 Villanova (17-2, 5-1 Big East) at Providence (12-8, 1-6)
When: 7 o'clock
Where: Dunkin' Donuts Center, Providence, R.I.
Radio: ESPN (950-AM)
Notes: The Wildcats are coming off 83-72 win at No. 3 Syracuse. Villanova made season-high 11 three-pointers. It was the Wildcats' first road win over a top-three team since 96-73 win in February 1995, at No. 1 Connecticut. Providence is coming off 72-67 win over Louisville. The Friars lost earlier in the season to La Salle. The Friars have lost eight straight to Villanova.
Drexel (13-6, 5-4 Colonial Athletic Association) at James Madison (15-6, 5-4)
When: 7 o'clock
Where: Convocation Center, Harrisonburg, Va.
TV/Radio: None
Notes: The Dragons are coming off a 57-33 league win over Georgia State. It was the fewest points allowed by the Dragons since they became a Division I school in 1973. JMU has lost three straight and is coming off 92-90 loss to Hofstra. JMU's four CAA losses are by a combined 10 points. JMU leads the CAA in points scored (76.0), while Drexel is second in fewest points allowed (59.6).