January 28, 2009 | AP Press

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Yves Mekongo Mbala scored 22 of his career-high 26 points in the first half, Rodney Green had 20 points and eight assists, and La Salle won its third straight game, 76-66 over George Washington on Wednesday night.

Ruben Guillandeaux scored 14 points, Paul Johnson had 13 and Vernon Goodridge grabbed a career-best 11 rebounds for the Explorers (12-7, 3-2 Atlantic 10).

Mbala’s 22 points at halftime is the most by a La Salle player since Steve Smith scored 23 in the first half of an 84-63 loss at Cincinnati on Dec. 22, 2004. Smith finished that game with 35 points.

Noel Wilmore scored 16 points, Rob Diggs 11 and Travis King 10 for the Colonials (6-12, 0-6), who lost their 10th in a row. George Washington hasn’t won since Dec. 23, a 59-47 victory at Sacramento State.

George Washington also matched its longest losing streak since the 2001-02 season and remains the only team without a victory in the 14-team conference.

La Salle trailed 58-57 after a 3-pointer by Wilmore with 5:57 remaining. But the Explorers went on a 7-0 run — 3-pointers by Guillandeaux and Green and a free throw by Goodridge — to take a 64-58 lead with 3:34 left.

George Washington never got closer than four points the rest of the way.