ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Junior Isiah Deas led a trio of Explorers in double figures with 19 points as head men's basketball coach Ashley Howard picked up his first career head coaching win in an 80-57 triumph over Alabama A&M at Boardwalk Hall on Friday. With the victory, La Salle moves on to the championship game of the Boardwalk Battle and will face Towson on Saturday, Dec. 22 at 2:30 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a slow start by both teams, a three-pointer from Gerron Scissum gave the Bulldogs a 12-10 lead with 13:29 remaining.
• La Salle responded with a pivotal 14-0 run, with sophomore David Beatty playing a key role.
• Beatty knocked down a trifecta and throw down a monster dunk in transition as the Explorers jumped out to a 24-12 advantage at the 9:47 mark.
• Five straight points from junior Saul Phiri, who made his season debut against Alabama A&M, bolstered the cushion to 33-18.
• Freshman Jack Clark got in on the action with a transition dunk to bump the margin to 40-22 right before intermission.
• The Explorers shot a sizzling 60.0 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes and held AAMU to 29.0 percent shooting.
• Alabama A&M scored the first five points of the second half, but La Salle was able to fend off every challenge the Bulldogs had.
• Deas hit a triple to give the Explorers a 45-29 lead with 16:11 left before AAMU once again scored five straight to cut its deficit to 11.
• Phiri hit a three as La Salle scored seven of the next nine points to once again take control. 
• La Salle slowly started to pull away and a three-pointer from graduate student Pookie Powell propelled the Explorers in front, 73-51, with just under five minutes to go.
• From there, the Explorers coasted to their first win of the season and moved into the title game of the Boardwalk Battle on Saturday.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Overall, La Salle shot 52.8 percent from the field and hit 15 of 17 from the free-throw line (88.2%).
• Powell closed with 17 points while Phiri finished with 13 points and a pair of assists in 23 minutes of action.
• Freshman Jack Clark came off the bench to provide a spark for the Explorers, tallying nine points, seven rebounds and five assists.
• The Explorers held Alabama A&M to 31.8 percent shooting for the game (21-66).
• Scissum registered 17 points and nine rebounds to leads the Bulldogs, who will face Tulane in the consolation contest of the event on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.