**Update 10:15 a.m. Thursday: Check philahoops.com tonight for live coverage from Villanova-Temple.**
By AARON BRACY
PHILAHOOPS.COM Editor
TOWSON 93, LA SALLE 90, OT
What happened: La Salle lost its fourth in a row, all at home, with the crushing defeat to Towson. … Consecutively at Gola Arena, the Explorers have lost to Villanova, Bucknell, Rider and Towson. … The Explorers dropped to 6-7, while Towson improved to 4-7.
**Live chat: If you would like a recap of what happened, you can click on the link of our first-ever live chat we did during the game. Thanks to all who participated. Click HERE.**
How they did it: Towson’s 6-7 F Isaiah Philmore hit a 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left to tie it at 86 and send the game into OT, where the Tigers outscored the Explorers 7-4. … The Explorers struggled defensively, as Towson shot 29-for-53 (54.7%) from the field, including 8-for-17 (47.1%), from 3-point range. … Philmore, who averaged 14.6 coming in, scored a career-high 27. Also for the Tigers, 6-8 F Braxton Dupree, who averaged 13.3 ppg, netted a career-high 27, as well; and 6-1 G Josh Brown, who averaged 6.5 ppg, hit for 23, 1 shy of his career high.
More on the defense: Defense clearly has been the problem in the Explorers’ losses to Bucknell (89-77), Rider (77-68) and Towson (93-90 OT).
Here’s a look at what they’ve surrendered:
Team FG-FGA (%) 3PT MADE-3PT ATTEMPT (%)
Bucknell 34-62 (54.8%) 9-18 (50%)
Rider 31-63 (49.2%) 4-15 (26.7%)
Towson 29-53 (54.7%) 8-17 (47.1%)
TOTAL 94-178 (52.8%) 21-50 (42%)
Good effort: 6-8 F Jerrell Williams powered the Explorers’ offense, scoring 32 points on 12-for-19 shooting and 8-for-10 from the stripe before fouling out with 1:17 left in overtime. … 6-0 G Tyreek Duren scored five of his 19 points during the final 28 seconds of regulation, also finishing with 6 assists.
**Read Williams’ quotes from his postgame press conference HERE.**
**Read Duren’s comments about the game and state of the Explorers in my post on collegechalktalk.com HERE.**
Where was he? La Salle’s third-leading scorer 6-6 G Ruben Guillandeaux (14.7 ppg) missed the game while en route from his hometown of Brooklyn, N.Y. Guillandeaux felt dizzy on Christmas, went to the hospital and had some delays in getting records due to the blizzard, according to coach John Giannini. By the time he could get to La Salle to see the doctor here, it was too late for him to suit up. But Giannini says Guillandeaux is fine.
Where does this leave Giannini? Frustrated and upset, certainly. And probably a little uneasy. Although he signed a multiyear extension in the offseason, three straight home losses to Bucknell, Rider and Towson do little to gain support among fans and alumni. Previously, I wrote that a loss to Towson would be Giannini on the hot seat. He’s there.
**Read Giannini’s postgame quotes HERE.**
In attendance: Former La Salle great and current ESPN announcer Bill Raftery, ex-Explorers coach Lefty Ervin and current Pitt standout 6-4 G Brad Wanamaker (Roman Catholic), who averages 13 points for the sixth-ranked Panthers, were in attendance.
Next: The Explorers will try to regroup and get their record back to .500 on Sunday when they host Binghamton at 2 p.m.
MARIST 66, PENN 57
In Philly’s other game Wednesday, 6-6 G Tyler Bernardini scored 18 points but Penn couldn’t hold on to its 27-25 halftime lead, losing to Marist in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
PHILAHOOPS.COM 
January 1st, 2011 → 5:59 am
[…] –LA SALLE (6-7) lost another home game to an average opponent in Towson on Wednesday, despite getting career efforts from […]
January 2nd, 2011 → 6:02 am
[…] return: Guillandeaux missed last Wednesday’s 93-90 OT loss to Towson because he was traveling on a bus from his home in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was feeling dizzy on […]
January 3rd, 2011 → 5:01 am
[…] Wednesday Towson 93, La Salle 90, OT […]