PHILADELPHIA - A traditional three-point play by Lafayette guard Alex Petrie with 10.0 seconds remaining in the second half proved to be the difference as the Leopards edged the La Salle University men's basketball team, 77-76, in front of a capacity crowd at Tom Gola Arena on Saturday. Graduate student Pookie Powell scored a game-high 26 points for the Explorers, but missed the potential game-winner before the buzzer.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• For the second straight game, La Salle opened up on fire, running out to an 11-0 lead thanks in large part to a pair of three-pointers from Powell.
• Lafayette responded with six straight points to close the margin, and eventually took a 20-19 advantage following a three-ball from Kyle Stout just before the midway point of the half.
• Graduate student Cheddi Mosely connected on his second three of the period to nudge the Explorers in front, 24-20, and the home team maintained a three-point lead (37-34) at intermission.
• Powell had 13 of his points in the first half while junior Isiah Deas added eight.
• Another three from Stout less than a minute into the second stanza pushed Lafayette in front, 39-37.
• Sophomore big man Miles Brookins was the catalyst of a 9-2 spurt that regained a five-point cushion for the Explorers at 46-41 with 17:27 remaining.
• Brookins scored five points, including a three-pointer from the top of the key.
• The Leopards slowly chipped away at the lead, tying the game at 52-52 with a three-pointer from Petrie at the 12:27 mark.
• Powell hit a jumper to put La Salle in front by one, before six straight points gave Lafayette a 62-57 lead with 8:53 to go.
• From there, the game was nip-and-tuck through the final seconds of the contest.
• Deas nailed a three-pointer with 2:18 on the clock that put La Salle on top, 75-71. The Leopards then responded with a layup from Myles Cherry and a free throw from Suffren to pull to within one.
• A free throw from junior Traci Carter inched the Explorers in front, 76-74, and empty possessions from both teams eventually led to the game-deciding three-point play.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• La Salle committed just seven turnovers and forced Lafayette into 17 miscues, which led to a 19-8 advantage in points of turnovers.
• The Leopards were able to control the paint, maintaining a 30-18 edge in points in the paint and outrebounding the Explorers, 42-30.
• Carter pilfered three steals and now has seven through two games this season. 
• Brookins closed with 13 points and six rebounds, while Deas added 16 for La Salle.
• Cherry led four Lafayette players in double figures with 18 points and 12 boards. 
• Lafayette shot 45.0 percent from three-point range, compared to La Salle's 35.5 percent.

UP NEXT

• The Explorers hit the road for a matchup with Southeastern Conference squad Florida on Wednesday, Nov. 14. 
• Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., with the action being shown live digitally on SEC Network Plus.