“It was the coach’s decision not to put him in the game in the second half,” UD coach Archie Miller said. “He played well. I didn’t think he had his wind coming off the floor. He stretched out a couple times. He didn’t feel real well. His stomach maybe got upset. I’m not going to risk him long-term with the season. Let’s just take it easy on him.
“Thankfully, luckily, we were able to get through the half without him, although it was a different half without him.”
Johnson, who wasn’t made available to the media, was given a rousing ovation by the crowd when he was announced in the starting lineup. And more than his five points and five rebounds, his presence gave his teammates an emotional boost.
“C.J. does so much for us — whether it’s scoring, it’s hitting shots, it’s getting offensive rebounds, getting deflections on defense,” forward Luke Fabrizius said. “Having him out there in the first half was huge for us.
“It’s great having the week off, knowing he was able to play tonight and he can get that rest and be ready to go for Xavier on Saturday.”
Put-backs: The Flyers allowed the Explorers to shoot 62 percent in the second half and watched a 15-point lead dwindle to three. UD was able to survive, though, because the Flyers muscled their way to 16 offensive rebounds.
Miller wants to see that same intensity on the defensive boards.
“I don’t think any coach in the world spends more time trying to figure out how to defensive-rebound more than me,” he said. “We’re a team that really plays well in transition. When we get out in transition, good things can happen for us.
“Rebounding is our mantra. It’s not the thing we hang our hat on, but it’s the thing we work the hardest on.”
Hall of Famers: UD celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Hall of Fame by recognizing past inductees. Don "Monk" Meineke, part of the charter class in 1962, was honored at halftime along with about 50 others.
The returnees from men’s basketball included Don Donoher (the emcee of the pregame event), Bill Uhl, Jim Paxson Sr., Bucky Bockhorn, Don Lane, Frank Case, Don and Ken May, Dan Sadlier, Gene Klaus, George Janky, Mike Sylvester, Kevin Conrad, Mike Kanieski, Ed Young and Mark Ashman.
Early TO: La Salle coach John Giannini called a timeout just 33 seconds into the game after his team let UD get off to a 5-0 start with a Kevin Dillard drive and a Fabrizius 3-pointer. Temple coach Fran Dunphy called one after 42 seconds because of some listless play against UD.
Getting word out: UD is selling tickets to the NCAA tournament "First Four" games. The local organizing committee promoting the event, which includes school president Dan Curran, was recognized at the game.
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