Atlantic City, NJ -- (Sports Network) - Rodney Green's go-ahead free throw with 23.8 seconds left to play helped lift the La Salle Explorers to an 82-79 victory over the Duquesne Dukes in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament at Boardwalk Hall.

Darnell Harris posted 21 points in the win for seventh-seeded La Salle (15-16), and Green added 18 points to go with nine rebounds and five assists. Yves Mekongo Mbala tallied 12 points and grabbed seven boards, while Jerrell Williams and Kimmani Barrett recorded 10 points and seven rebounds apiece for the Explorers.

Reggie Jackson poured in a career-high 29 points to pace 10th-seeded Duquesne (17-13), while Gary Tucker scored 12. Aaron Jackson chipped in 10 points in the losing effort.

La Salle hit on 44.1 percent of its field goals in the first frame to take a slight 39-36 lead into the break.

The Explorers shot a blazing 60.0 percent from the field during the second frame and used Green's late foul shot to earn the three-point victory.

La Salle advances to face second-seeded Temple in the quarterfinals on Thursday.