PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Earl Pettis scored a season-high 23 points as La Salle held off Xavier 80-70 on Wednesday night in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener for both teams.
The Explorers (11-4) have won four straight and nine of their last 10 contests while the Musketeers (9-5) have lost five of six since their brawl with Cincinnati on Dec. 10.
La Salle led 46-30 at halftime and by 18 in the second half.
A Mark Lyons 3-pointer cut the lead to five, at 74-69, with 1:45 to play, but the Explorers sealed the win with a Devon White dunk and four free throws.
Ramon Galloway added 16 points, hitting 3 of 5 3-pointers for the Explorers, who were 9 of 26 from long range.
La Salle is 11-0 when scoring 70 points and 10-1 when making at least eight 3s.
Tu Holloway and Dezmine Wells led the Musketeers with 15 points apiece.
