GAME NOTES: The Fordham Rams try for their first conference victory of the season when they take on the La Salle Explorers in Atlantic 10 Conference action from Tom Gola Arena.

The Rams are 0-4 in league play and haven't won since Dec. 31 against South Carolina State. Fordham is coming off a 66-55 road defeat against another Philadelphia-based team, Saint Joseph's on Wednesday.

The Explorers have dropped three of their last four contests, including a 61-50 decision at Dayton on Wednesday.

La Salle has owned the Rams in the all-time series with a 34-13 advantage. That includes wins in six of the last seven matchups. Also, the Explorers are 16-1 all-time at home versus Fordham, including 7-1 at Gola Arena.

Fordham got 16 points from Eric Paschall, 14 from Bryan Smith and 10 from Mandell Thomas in the recent loss to the Hawks. Fordham was outrebounded, 42-25 and shot only 8-of-15 at the foul line.

Paschall and Chris Sengfelder are the only set of freshman teammates to be averaging more than 10 points and five rebounds per game. Paschall (16.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg) is sixth in the A-10 in scoring. Sengfelder (11.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg) is shooting just 54.5 percent from the charity stripe. Thomas (12.7 ppg) has also struggled shooting, but his issues are from long distance (.259). The Rams average just 63.5 ppg and give up 68 ppg. What is keeping them afloat this season is their defense. They are averaging 7.5 steals per tilt, which is second-best in the conference. Additionally, Fordham has the fourth-leading rebounder in junior forward Ryan Rhoomes (8.9 rpg). Antwoine Anderson contributes 3.7 assists per outing.

Jordan Price paced La Salle with 13 points and seven rebounds in the loss to Dayton. Steve Zack and Cleon Roberts chipped in 10 points apiece. Dayton outscored La Salle, 13-2, in fast-break points. The Explorers went just 19- of-48 from the field.

Defense has helped keep the Explorers above .500 this season. They are giving up just 62.5 ppg, which is fifth-best in the Atlantic 10. La Salle scores just 64.2 ppg. Price leads the way with 17.1 ppg, followed by Jerrell Wright with 11.1 ppg. Price has hit on 83.9 percent of his foul shots, and that includes conversions in 25 of his last 26 attempts over his last seven contests. he is second in the A-10 in free-throw percentage. Steve Zack contributes 8.9 ppg, just behind Roberts (9.6 ppg). Zack also is averaging 8.4 rpg, which is fifth-best in the A-10.

If the Explorers can play like they did against George Washington a week ago, Fordham doesn't stand a chance in this matchup. In that game, La Salle forced 20 turnovers and held GW to only 50 points, 20 below its season average. La Salle scored 19 of the first 21 points in that game. With Zack taking command of the painted area and Roberts coming on strong from beyond the arc, it will be difficult for the Rams to stay with the Explorers. Roberts has connected on 48 percent (24-of-50) from 3-point range over his last 13 games.

Fordham nearly beat the Explorers in the last matchup, but Tyreek Duran's buzzer-beating layup gave La Salle a 64-62 road win on March 1, 2014.