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Youre not going to see Jerrell Wright step back behind the line and hoist a three-pointer. You wont see him shoot any off-balance fallaway jumpers from the top of the key. Hes not going to try to be something hes not.
Hes a big guy who wants to be a big guy, La Salle coach John Giannini said.
And on Wednesday night, Wright made eight of 10 shots for 18 points -- all from close range, all against an imposing frontcourt -- and helped La Salle remain atop the Atlantic 10 Conference with an 85-72 win over Charlotte at Gola Arena.
If a big guy wants to play like hes 6-0 instead of 6-8, were not interested, Giannini said. Jerrells a tough guy who wants to be a big guy. He does work inside.
Wright, a 6-foot-8 freshman forward from Dobbins, scored eight of his 18 during a critical four-minute stretch late in the game in which La Salle turned a three-point lead into an 11-point lead.
Wright finished three points shy of his career-high 21, set against Central Connecticut State in New Britain in December.
Our guards open up a lot of opportunities for me, Wright said. The way our guards shoot leads to a lot of open shots and dunks for me.
Charlotte boasts one of the A-10s bigger, stronger frontcourts, but the rapidly improving Wright dominated Wednesday with one of his finest games of the year.
After averaging 7.9 points in La Salles first 19 games, Wright is at 14.3 the last four. All wins. Hes made 24 of 36 shots in those four games, 67 percent from the field.
I always say, I expect the world from Jerrell, Giannini said. I still wish hed have more rebounds, but 18 points and zero turnovers tonight? But I think he can play better, too.
Wright, the Public League Player of the Year last season, is making a case for himself as one of the top freshmen in the A-10.
To me, the big thing (thats gotten better) is his defense, guard Tyreek Duren said. I knew his offense would come. But every game, it seems like hes getting better defensively.
Wright is La Salles only starter taller than 6-5. On a team with four exceptional guards who can all pass, he often finds himself in a tremendous position to score.
Good guards help big men, and we have good guards, Giannini said. And when they can get him the ball, theyre going to help us win.
So how do you stop this inside-outside combination?
I dont think you can, Duren said after scoring 13 of his 22 points in the second half. I dont think anybody can guard us.
La Salle improved to 17-6 with its fourth straight win and is now 15-3 in 18 games since a 2-3 start. Their 17-6 record is their best after 23 games since the 1990 team was 22-1.
The Explorers are 12-0 this year at Gola Arena, and the 12th home win broke La Salles record for most wins in a season in this 15-year-old arena. Overall, La Salle has won 14 straight home games, the 11th-longest current streak in Division 1 and La Salles longest home winning streak since a 19-game streak over the 1968 through 1970 seasons.
La Salle is now 6-2 in the Atlantic 10. With UMass losing to Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure losing to St. Louis, North Philly neighbors La Salle and Temple now find themselves atop the conference standings with two losses apiece.
It means a lot, Duren said. But the seasons only halfway done. We cant stop now.
La Salle took a 10-point lead late in the first half at 33-23, only to see Charlotte tie the game at 36 just before halftime. La Salle opened the lead back up to 12 at 48-36 four minutes into the second half, only to see the 49ers go on a 14-3 run to trim the lead back to one at 51-50 with 10 12 minutes to go.
But with Wright scoring six points in a five-minute span, La Salle went on a 13-2 run that finally put away the pesky 49ers.
I like our team, Giannini said. Theyre not perfect, but they want to win, and they have good unity. Mentally, theyre very good, and thats what helps you stop runs and win games like this.
Thats a sign of mental growth. Youre not going to beat people by 15 or 20 points in this league. Thats the exception. The norm is really close games. When people make a run, youve got to withstand it, and we did that tonight.
Charlotte fell to 10-11 and 2-6. The 49ers have lost four straight and eight of their last 11 following a 7-2 start.
Charlotte, 10th in the A-10 in three-point shooting at 33 percent, stayed in the game by making five of its first 10 from three-point range before finishing 5-for-17.
Chris Braswell led Charlotte with 19 points and Javarris Barnett and DeMario Mayfield scored 15 each.
Charlotte stayed in the game by making five of its first 10 from three but missed its last seven.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com.