There will be more pressure on the Hawks (10-19 overall, 4-11 league). If they lose, their season will come to its earliest conclusion since Phil Martelli became head coach in 1995.
With a loss, the Explorers (12-17, 4-11) can still get in the tournament if Rhode Island defeats Massachusetts today at UMass. In that scenario, La Salle would win a tiebreaker over UMass based on its two wins over the Minutemen.
Both teams go into the game having broken losing streaks.
St. Joe's ended a five-game skid with Wednesday's 80-71 win at George Washington, its first road conference triumph of the season.
La Salle had lost eight straight before knocking off UMass, 89-78, Wednesday on Senior Night at Tom Gola Arena. Green scored 30 points, raising his career total to 1,902, which ranks ninth on the school's all-time scoring list.
The Hawks could have an emotional edge for two reasons: It's their first game at their expanded and renovated arena since Feb. 9, so it's a homecoming of sorts. Also, it's Senior Day, and therefore the final home game for Garrett Williamson and Darrin Govens.
"They've gone from young guys to men, and I'm proud of them for that," Martelli said. "Basketball hasn't quite worked out for them collectively, but they've had an experience. Their greatest accomplishment is they'll be graduates of St. Joseph's University.
"The praise and negative comments you get are the result of how your team did. They've been able to deal with that this season. They're better for it. It's not easy to tell them that at 22. It's not easy to tell myself that at 55, but they're better for having gone through the experience than not having attempted to be measured."
