PHILADELPHIA - Redshirt junior Pookie Powell scored a game-high 24 points, but the La Salle University men's basketball team suffered an 80-74 loss at the hands of VCU on Saturday afternoon at Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center.

The Explorers (7-9, 1-2 Atlantic 10) held an eight-point halftime lead over their conference opponent, but the Rams (10-6, 2-1 A-10) shot 53.6 percent from the second half to take home the win.

La Salle got off to a strong start, scoring the first 15 points of the game to take a double-digit lead. Senior B.J. Johnson, who returned to the lineup after missing three games due to an ankle injury, was a big part of the run and his steal and jumper gave the Explorers a 15-0 cushion at the 14:00 mark.

A three-pointer from Powell put the score at 26-12 in favor of the home team with 8:45 left in the opening half, before the Rams made their move. A fast-break layup from De-Riante Jenkins, who led the Rams with 20 points, jumpstarted a 16-3 run that brought the visiting side to within one at 29-28.

The margin remained one until sophomore Isiah Deas scored five straight points as part of a 9-2, half-closing spurt for the Explorers. La Salle entered the locker room with a 40-32 lead, as Deas led the way with 14 points.

VCU came out aggressively to begin the second period and took its first lead of the contest on a dunk from Justin Tillman less than four minutes in. A pair of three-pointers from Malik Crowfield closed a string of 13 consecutive points that pushed the Rams ahead, 53-44, with 14:23 on the clock.

The visitors had their largest lead of the game at 65-55 just past the halfway point of the half, before La Salle began to claw its way back. Consecutive three-point possessions from Powell brought the Explorers within four at 65-61, and a three-pointer from Deas two minutes later made it a one-possession game at 71-68.

Graduate student Amar Stukes made two free throws to draw La Salle even closer at 72-70, but four consecutive points from VCU bumped the margin back to six at 76-70 with 1:44 to go.

After a timeout, Stukes made a tough driving bucket in the paint and, after a stop at the other end, Powell did the same to once again bring the Explorers to within two.

Another nice defensive stop gave La Salle possession with 25.6 remaining, but an empty offensive trip with a chance to tie the game for La Salle led to a foul to stop the clock. VCU's Jonathan Williams converted all four of his free throws over the final 15 seconds to seal the win for the Rams.

Deas closed with 17 points and Johnson had 15 points, seven rebounds and four steals, while Stukes finished with 10 points for the Explorers, who will return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at Massachusetts. The Atlantic 10 matchup is set to tipoff at 7:00 p.m., and will be shown locally on NBC Sports Philadelphia.