LEWISBURG, Pa. – Reigning Patriot League Player of the Year Nana Foulland scored 30 points to propel Bucknell to an 88-81 victory over the La Salle University men's basketball team on Friday evening.
 
Redshirt junior Pookie Powell had a team-high 29 points and sophomore Isiah Deas added a career-best 24 for the Explorers, who finished the 12th-toughest non-conference schedule in the country with a 6-7 record.
 
Playing without leading scorer B.J. Johnson (21.8 ppg) and freshman forward Miles Brookins, La Salle put together a 10-2 run early on that gave the visitors a 14-8 lead. The lead was 17-13 following a three-point play from Deas, before the Bison found traction.
 
Bucknell scored 12 straight points, including six from Foulland, put the home side in front, 25-17. The 6-10 center was a menace on the low post, scoring on a variety of moves to register 19 first-half points to help the Bison to a 41-34 lead heading into intermission.
 
In the second stanza, consecutive three-pointers from freshman Dajour Joseph and Deas brought La Salle to within 49-45 at the 15:05 mark of the period. The three was the first field goal of Joseph's collegiate career.
 
But six straight from the Bison bumped the lead back to double figures and the difference grew to 17 points with just under eight minutes to go. A late run from the Explorers brought them to within six with under a minute remaining but it was not enough.
 
In addition to Foulland, Bucknell (6-7) received 21 points and seven assists from Stephen Brown and a double-double performance from Zach Thomas (16 points, 14 rebounds) in the win.
 
La Salle begins Atlantic 10 play on Saturday, Dec. 30 at Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m.