GAME NOTES: Both the La Salle Explorers and Quinnipiac Bobcats will be out to build on season opening victories on Tuesday night when they match up at the TD Banks Sports Center in non-conference action.

La Salle very nearly dropped its first game of the season, but it eventually held on for a 57-52 win over Colgate. It wasn't the most auspicious of starts for the Explorers, who are just two years removed from a surprising Sweet 16 run. However, they went a pedestrian 15-16 overall last season. They will host Saint Peter's next.

Quinnipiac barely survived in its season opener as well. The Bobcats clashed with regional rival Yale and outlasted the Bulldogs in double-overtime, 88-85. The Bobcats are coming off a 20-12 season, their first as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They will play their first road game of this new campaign next when they visit Albany.

These teams met for just the second time early last season, when La Salle captured a 73-67 triumph at home. The Explorers won the only other meeting between the two schools with an 82-71 decision during the 2002-03 season.

Last season's decline from the Sweet 16 run was a result of weak offensive efforts by La Salle. The Explorers ranked next-to-last in the Atlantic 10 in both scoring (67.7 ppg) and field goal percentage (.413). They did not appear to have made many improvements in the offseason, as they connected on only 35.8 percent of their shots from the field in the opener against Colgate. While they may not have been effective with their shots, at least the Explorers were careful with the ball, turning it over only eight times.

Of course, it is not all that surprising that La Salle did not click on offense right away. After all, the Explorers have to find replacements for their top two scorers from last season now that Tyreek Duren and Tyrone Garland (12.5 ppg) are gone. Jerrell Wright, who scored 13.3 ppg last season, is still around and he got plenty of chances against Colgate, finishing with 10 points on 5-of-12 shooting, while leading the way in rebounds as well (seven). Amar Stukes netted 10 points off the bench as the only other double- digit scorer in the opener.

Despite out-shooting Yale 46.4 percent to 38.5 percent, Quinnipiac was never able to truly shake the Bulldogs until after two extra periods had passed. Part of the problem was ball control, as the Bobcats turned it over 16 times.

Ousmane Drame made a major impact at the end of regulation to force overtime, hitting a game-tying layup with 22 seconds left and blocking a potential game- winning shot attempt at the other end, his seventh rejection in the game. Drame, who scored 13 points, was instrumental in Quinnipiac's domination of the glass, as it had a 54-38 edge in rebounds, 15 of which came from Drame. Success on the boards seems to have carried over from last season, when the Bobcats led the nation in rebounds (45.4 rpg). Zaid Hearst played a big role in the season-opening win, scoring a career-high 34 points to go with 11 boards and five assists. Evan Conti (13 points, six assists), Kasim Chandler (13 points, six assists) and Justin Harris (12 points) were solid contributors as well.

Quinnipiac's ability to control the glass is a major advantage and one that makes it tough to beat, especially at home. If La Salle struggles to find its touch on offense yet again, it could be in real trouble. However, Wright is a talented enough scorer to help the Explorers through rough shooting patches. It may not be easy but La Salle should win.