PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — A surging Saint Joseph’s squad will look to continue its climb in the Atlantic 10 standings when it visits city rival La Salle on Saturday at Tom Gola Arena.

The Hawks (13-8, 6-2 A-10) have won five of their last six games, including an 85-64 road rout of Loyola Chicago on Tuesday. They are led by dynamic guard Derek Simpson, who is coming off a 15-point, 10-assist performance in that victory. Over his last seven games, Simpson is averaging 18.6 points and 7.4 assists, posting three double-doubles in that span.

La Salle (7-14, 3-5) seeks consistency after a 58-64 loss at Fordham on Wednesday. The Explorers have shown flashes, notably a home win over Dayton on Jan. 21, but have struggled to string wins together. Forward Jerome Brewer, who scored 21 points against Fordham and had a 27-point outing in a win over Saint Bonaventure on Jan. 17, is the team’s primary offensive threat.

The matchup pits one of the conference’s hottest teams against a rival playing for pride and to disrupt the league hierarchy. Saint Joseph’s, which won 97-90 in overtime against Duquesne on Jan. 7, has displayed a potent offense during its run. La Salle’s defense, which allowed 74 points per game in its last five outings, will be tested.

Historically, these Philadelphia rivals have played tight contests, adding intrigue despite the disparity in their current records. The Explorers will aim to leverage their home court in a building where they defeated Dayton earlier this month.

The game tips off at 12:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. It is the first of two regular-season meetings between the schools, with the rematch scheduled for March 7 at Saint Joseph’s.