SPORTS
March 31, 2013 | By Mike Jensen, Inquirer Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES - Watching La Salle fall one more upset short of becoming the first No. 13 seed to reach the NCAA Elite Eight, you could argue three Explorers NCAA wins are testament to a school showing patience with a coach, since John Giannini got to March Madness in his ninth season on Olney Avenue. Or maybe it was a coach showing patience with a school. Forget what you just saw. Did you think La Salle was a place where such a run was possible? Was anybody convinced that the Explorers could recruit the players necessary to compete in the Atlantic Ten, let alone make an NCAA run?
SPORTS
March 21, 2013 | By Marc Narducci, Inquirer Staff Writer
La Salle senior Ramon Galloway had just brought down the house with a thunderous dunk, and his father, Gerald, sitting in Tom Gola Arena, was in his glory. The elder Galloway is as enthusiastic as the rest of the Explorers faithful, even though he must sense the play instead of watching it. Gerald Galloway has been blind since 1993 after being shot in a dispute in Tioga. He said the shooter died before the case went to trial, but it illustrates the rough-and-tumble life that both the elder Galloway and his son have experienced.
SPORTS
March 21, 2013 | By Mike Jensen, Inquirer Staff Writer
Nothing is given, it must be earned. John Giannini learned that early. His father had made it to Chicago from Italy in his 20s and found the opportunity he sought in the plumbing trade. The colder the Chicago nights, the more likely Manfredo Giannini would be called out to fix water main breaks. "He had real rough hands," Giannini said this week, standing inside Tom Gola Arena. "He had a huge swollen elbow just from overuse. Then he had a nice little side business. He always prayed for rain because when people's basements flooded, the word was out, if you needed a sump, call Fred Giannini.
SPORTS
March 20, 2013 | By Marc Narducci, Inquirer Staff Writer
If La Salle is to advance in the NCAA tournament this week it will be without 6-foot-11 sophomore center Steve Zack. Before Monday's practice at Tom Gola Arena, La Salle coach John Giannini said that Zack's sprained left foot will keep him out of action for at least another week. "He is week to week and hopefully we are still playing next week," said Giannini, whose team opens action with Wednesday's 9:10 p.m. first-round game against Boise State in Dayton, Ohio. The winner meets Kansas State on Friday in Kansas City, and that winner will play on Sunday for a chance to go to the Sweet 16. Zack, who will travel with the team, has missed the last three games.
SPORTS
March 20, 2013 | DAILY NEWS STAFF REPORT
TOM GOLA Born: Jan. 13, 1933. Age 80 Birthplace: Philadelphia High school: La Salle College: La Salle (1951-55). Led Explorers to 1954 NCAA national championship and runner-up finish in 1955. National player of the year in 1954 and UPI player of year in 1955. Most Outstanding Player in 1954 Final Four. Three-time All-America. NIT co-MVP in 1952, as Explorers took NIT title College stats: Gola was a 6-6 forward. He averaged 20.9 points and 19.0 rebounds. Had 2,201 career rebounds, still an NCAA record PRO BASKETBALL CAREER: * Drafted by Philadelphia Warriors in 1955 as a territorial pick * Warriors: 1955-62; Knicks: 1962-66 * NBA champion in 1956 with Warriors * 5-time NBA All-Star * Stats: Points 7,871 (11.3 ppg)
NEWS
March 20, 2013 | By Frank Fitzpatrick, Inquirer Staff Writer
The tarnished remnants in tiny Tom Gola Arena are reminders of La Salle basketball's increasingly distant golden era. Trophies and mementos from the Explorers' 1950s NCAA and NIT titles, along with photos of Gola, the homegrown superstar who made those championships possible, are ubiquitous inside the 3,400-seat facility that is itself a relic. "La Salle is known for lots of things, but a very prominent one is our basketball history," said athletic director Tom Brennan. "When we're not doing well, we don't get to think about it much.
SPORTS
March 20, 2013 | By Marcus Hayes, Daily News Staff Writer
DAYTON, Ohio - Gus Chialastri, 90, subscribes to the perfect philosophy for a La Salle basketball fan. "I'm thankful for the good in my life," he says, "and I just accept the bad!" For the past 2 decades, there has been a lot of acceptance for Chialastri and the other La Salle faithful. For the past 2 decades, there has been a lot of bad La Salle basketball. Wednesday night, the Explorers will play in their first NCAA Tournament game in 21 years. It is a wonderful gift for Chialastri, who celebrated his birthday Saturday.
SPORTS
March 19, 2013
Here's definite evidence that John Giannini has a quick ball club: "The players jumped up, and I didn't even get to see it," the Explorers coach said. "Lost my moment. " Players had erupted out of their seats Sunday when La Salle's name appeared on the television screen during the NCAA tournament selection show. The name didn't appear until the last regional was unveiled on CBS. I've been at close NCAA games with less tension in the air than inside that little conference room down the hall from the basketball office at Tom Gola Arena.
SPORTS
March 18, 2013 | By Marc Narducci, Inquirer Staff Writer
Fittingly, things went down to the wire for La Salle on Selection Sunday. The tension was more than any Atlantic Ten game. Finally, with the CBS NCAA tournament selection show announcing the final teams in the final region, La Salle heard its name called for the first time in 21 years. The Explorers (21-9) will compete in a first-round game Wednesday at 9:10 p.m. in Dayton against Boise State (21-10) for the right to earn the No. 13 seed. The winner meets No. 4-seeded Kansas State (27-7)
SPORTS
March 18, 2013 | By Marc Narducci, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Fittingly, things went down to the wire for La Salle on Selection Sunday. The tension was more than any Atlantic Ten game. Finally, with the CBS NCAA tournament selection show announcing the final teams in the final region, La Salle heard its name called for the first time in 21 years. The Explorers (21-9) will compete in a first-round game Wednesday at 9:10 p.m. in Dayton against Boise State (21-10) for the right to earn the No. 13 seed. The winner meets No. 4-seeded Kansas State (27-7)