PHILADELPHIA - A three-pointer from senior Jordan Price with 4.6 seconds remaining in overtime capped a valiant comeback that saw the La Salle men's basketball team erase a 10-point deficit in the final 5:43 to force overtime against Big 5 rival Temple. But Shizz Alston Jr. scored seven points in the extra period to help the Owls to a 97-92 win over the Explorers in the season opener for both schools on Friday evening.

Playing in the first game of his La Salle career, junior B.J. Johnson scored a game-high 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Price added 22 points and junior Pookie Powell contributed 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Trailing by double figures with just under six minutes remaining, La Salle crept back into the game beginning with two free throws from Powell at the 5:25 mark. A three from Johnson cut the margin in half, 71-66, with 4:30 on the clock.

The Owls were able to push their lead back to nine following a layup from Quinton Rose with 2:23 on the clock, before the Explorers made one final push that was helped from fine free-throw shooting. Powell, redshirt junior Amar Stukes and Price each converted a pair from the charity stripe as part of an 8-1 run that brought the visitors back to within 78-76 with 26.4 seconds left.

A free throw from Alston Jr. put the score at 79-76 before Stukes knocked down two more from the line to pull La Salle closer at 79-78 with 14.9 on the clock. After a foul, Alston Jr. converted two more free throws to set the stage for Price's heroics in the final seconds. 

With possession down by three, Powell quickly brought the ball up court and dished to Price, who unleashed a 25-footer from the top of the key that hit nothing but net to tie the game at 81-81. A last-second heave by Temple from half court was off the mark as the game moved to overtime. 

The two teams traded free throws over the first two minutes of the extra period before a tip-in from Obi Enechionyia gave the Owls a lead they would not relinquish with 2:53 reamining. Alston Jr. scored on a short jumper then turned a steal into a fast-break hoop to essentially seal the game.

The first half saw La Salle fall behind early but receive solid production from freshman Isiah Deas. Deas, earning the first start of his career, connected on a trio of three-pointers en route to 11 first-half points, but the Explorers trailed by three heading to the locker room. Price had nine in the opening stanza while Johnson and junior Demetrius Henry each had six. 

For the game, Daniel Dingle led Temple with 21 points while Enechionyia (20 points, 14 rebounds) and Ernest Aflakpui (12 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles.

La Salle returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 15 with its home opener at Tom Gola Arena beginning at 7:00 p.m.