The Explorers News Today

DaRon Holmes II is having the type of season that has the Dayton forward on the radar for national achievements. Holmes scored 22 points and Javon Bennett and Nate Santos each scored 13 to lead No. 16 Dayton to its 13th straight win, 66-54 over La Salle on Tuesday night. The Flyers (16-2, 6-0 Atlantic 10) made the biggest upward move this week in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll, gaining six places after wins over Saint Louis and Rhode Island.

Wooga Poplar overcame a slight ankle injury and scored a career-high 25 points to help No. 24 Miami beat La Salle 84-77 on Saturday. Nijel Pack was Miami’s fourth double-figure scorer with 11. Poplar, who averages a team-leading 15.6 points, landed awkwardly on his left foot after an unsuccessful dunk attempt late in the first half.

La Salle coach Fran Dunphy won his 600th career game, hitting the milestone Sunday in the Explorers’ 81-62 win over Coppin State. The 75-year-old Dunphy is the 43rd NCAA Division I coach to win 600 games. Dunphy won 310 games as head coach at Penn from 1989-2006, and 270 at Temple from 2006-19.

Tyrese Proctor has joined the scoring parade as No. 9 Duke keeps unveiling sources of high-powered offense. The sophomore guard scored a career-high 22 and the Blue Devils had several big second-half runs to bury La Salle in a 95-66 win Tuesday night. “My shots started falling early,” Proctor said.

The Kyle Neptune era will begin on Monday when No. 16 Villanova hosts La Salle in the season opener for both teams.

La Salle fired basketball coach Ashley Howard after an 11-19 season, multiple outlets reported Monday.

La Salle fired basketball coach Ashley Howard after an 11-19 season, multiple outlets reported Monday.

La Salle fired basketball coach Ashley Howard after an 11-19 season, multiple outlets reported Monday.

Collin Gillespie totaled 13 points, six rebounds and five assists as seventh-ranked Villanova never trailed and cruised to a 72-46 rout over Big 5 foe LaSalle o