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Jordan Price scores 37 but La Salle falls short

A furious comeback was not enough to overcome a sluggish start Wednesday night as La Salle fell, 84-80, to visiting Hofstra, which earned coach Joe Mihalich his 300th win.

A furious comeback was not enough to overcome a sluggish start Wednesday night as La Salle fell, 84-80, to visiting Hofstra, which earned coach Joe Mihalich his 300th win.

Jordan Price led the Explorers with a career-high 37 points, including 24 in the second half, but the Explorers' supporting players couldn't muster enough offensive help.

La Salle trailed, 50-33, with 17 minutes left before rallying. The Explorers (4-2) used a 10-2 run to get within 78-77, but Cleon Roberts missed a chance to tie the score, missing a free throw with 1 minute, 15 seconds remaining.

Price, a 6-foot-5 forward, shot 15 of 22 from the field and 7 of 13 from behind the three-point line.

The Pride (5-2), however, received a balanced offensive attack, led by senior Juan'ya Green, who finished with eight assists.

"I think that's who we are: We're a balanced team," said Mihalich, who played at La Salle before spending 17 years as an assistant on the Explorers staff from 1981-98. "Juan'ya knows it better than anybody. We all play off of him."

Green made only 2 of 12 shots, but his play helped yield Hofstra six double-digit scorers. "I just made sure I talked to my teammates and made plays," said Green, who starred at Archbishop Carroll (2011).

Price started the Explorers' late surge with back-to-back three pointers, the second of which followed an Amar Stukes' steal, and cut Hofstra's lead to 78-75 with 2 minutes, 18 seconds remaining.

Brian Bernardi led the Pride with 22 points. Ameen Tanksley (12), Rokas Gustys (10), Desure Buie (10), and Denton Koon (12) were the Pride's other major offensive contributors.

"We got beat by a very good team," said La Salle coach John Giannini. "More experienced than us, better shooters than us, they had more size than us."

Roberts and redshirt sophomore Tony Washington were the only other Explorers in double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively.

The Explorers play Drexel at home on Saturday at 2 p.m.

cartera@phillynews.com

@AceCarterINQ