It was a night of reflection, celebration and certainly emotion. La Salle officially but the bow on an exemplary 2012-2013 basketball season Tuesday in a banquet at Tom Gola Arena.
A large crowd turned out to celebrate a season of Snapback Hats Cheap Wholesale great accomplishment for the Explorers, who went 24-10 and won three riveting NCAA tournament games to earn a spot in the Sweet 16.
"I heard from hundreds of people going back to kindergarten and the reason why is everybody watches the NCAA tournament," coach John Giannini said. "It provided great exposure for the university, provided great memories and a sense of accomplishment for your players, and as a coach it gives you something to build on."
It was an emotional night for senior guard Ramon Galloway, who earned first-team honors in the Atlantic Ten Conference and the Big Five after averaging a team-high 17.2 points. Galloway scored 1,023 points in his two seasons at La Salle after transferring from South Carolina.
"This is really my last time in a college atmosphere before going on the real world and starting a journey with that," Galloway said. "There is so much emotion, happiness but also sadness, In4mation Snapbacks Hat and it's a great feeling."
La Salle earned its first NCAA tournament berth since 1992. The Explorers beat Boise State, 80-71 in Dayton before gaining two wild two-point wins in Kansas City, Mo. The Explorers beat Kansas State, 63-61 before a partisan Wildcats crowd and then defeated Ole Miss, 76-74, winning on the Southwest Philly Floater by Tyrone Garland in the waning seconds.
La Salle's season ended March 28 with a 72-58 loss to Wichita State in the Western Regional semifinal at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Shockers went on to the Final Four and gave national champion Louisville all it could handle in a 72-68 loss.
La Salle was ranked 24th in the final USA Today coaches poll.
The Explorers had watched the NCAA tournament for most of their lives, but as participants they felt the magnitude of the event.
"It is way bigger," said point guard Tyreek Duren, who averaged 14.3 points. "It is something you look at on TV, but you only get that true feeling from actually being there."
Each win added to the excitement.
"It kept getting greater and greater," Duren said. "Especially after we won against Kansas State because of how hostile that environment was. You come into somebody's home with 20,000 fans, and to leave with a W is really big."
Giannini, the Big Five coach of the year, New Era Vice Snapbacks took a moment to reflect.
"The season is not the time to be happy or satisfied because there is always that next game to prepare for," he said. "That is why a night like this is so special, to be able to look back on all that was accomplished."