UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Senior B.J. Johnson scored 27 points, his fourth straight game with 20 or more, but it was not enough as the La Salle University men's basketball team dropped an 82-61 decision to Boston College at the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament on Sunday afternoon.
 
Johnson, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, went 8-of-16 from the field and 4-of-8 from three-point range. Overall, the Explorers struggled as a team offensively, shooting 34.4 percent from the floor as they fell to 3-2 on the season.
 
A layup from freshman Miles Brookins capped a 7-0 run that pushed the Explorers in front by a 17-13 margin at the 10:42 mark of the opening half. From there, however, the La Salle offense went cold as they connected on just one field goal over the final 10 minutes of the period.
 
Boston College used a 10-0 spurt over the final 3:56, including a buzzer-beating, 45-foot three-pointer from Ky Bowman that put the score at 30-22 going into halftime.
 
A three-pointer from senior Johnnie Shuler, his second of the game, cut the La Salle deficit to 40-34 with 13:15 left in the second half. But B.C. responded with seven straight points and held a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.

Jerome Robinson led five Eagles in double figures with 25 points, while Deontae Hawkins had 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. B.C. outrebounded the Explorers, 48-30, and took advantage with a 19-3 edge in second-chance points.

La Salle returns to action on Wednesday, Nov. 22 with a neutral-site game against No. 12/11 Miami. Tipoff from Santander Arena in Reading, Pa., is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.