ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Whew! The players all caught their breath during halftime and we're at a breakneck pace again. La Salle leads, 55-54, at the second media timeout.

Duquesne caught a nice break when La Salle's Yves Mekongo Mbala and Paul Johnson each picked up his third foul in the first minute of the second half. The Dukes took advantage, picking up the tempo and outscoring La Salle 12-4 to open the half. The five-point edge was the biggest for either team so far.

La Salle came right back, taking the lead on an and-one layup by Kimmani Barrett. Sherman Diaz converted the missed free throw to give the Explorers a three-point edge, but Duquesne's Bill Clark's tied it on a three-point play. A minute later, Mbala and Reggie Jackson traded threes.