ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Graduate student Pookie Powell scored a game-high 18 points and the La Salle University men's basketball team used a strong defensive performance to defeat Towson, 57-51, in the championship game of the Boardwalk Battle on Saturday afternoon. Powell also totaled a career-high five steals en route to being named Tournament Most Valuable Player and helping the Explorers to their second consecutive win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• A low-scoring affair from the start, the Explorers jumped out to a 10-4 lead after a driving layup from sophomore David Beatty with 15:47 remaining in the period.
• Over the next two minutes, Towson scored six straight points to tie the game at 10-10 just past the 14-minute mark.
• The Explorers would score seven of the next nine points to take a 17-12 lead, with freshman Jack Clark capping the spurt with a layup.
• A transition hoop from Powell with 7:27 to go in the first half pushed the advantage to 23-14, before La Salle went cold offensively.
• La Salle missed its next 10 shots over a six-minute stretch that saw the Tigers come all the way back to tie the game at 23-23.
• Junior Saul Phiri and freshman Jared Kimbrough concluded the period with back-to-back buckets to give the Explorers a four-point lead at halftime.
• The contest remained close for the remainder of the game, with the Explorers making multiple attempts to run away from the Tigers.
• A three-pointer from Jack Clark at the 11:10 mark put La Salle up 42-35, a seven-point margin that was equaled four minutes later after another layup by Powell.
• With the difference still seven with 5:17 to go, Brian Fobbs connected on a three and converted a layup to bring Towson to within 48-46.
• Following a timeout, Deas hit a short hook in the lane to re-establish a 50-46 lead. From there, the two teams did not register a made field goal over the final three minutes.
• La Salle went to the foul line on five of its final seven possessions, converting seven of 10 attempts. Those foul shots proved to be enough, as Towson missed its final five shots.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• La Salle won its first in-season tournament since 2003, when the team defeated South Carolina State and Chattanooga to win the Dr. Pepper Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn.
• Powell averaged 17.5 points per game over the weekend, going 11-for-19 from the field (57.9%) and totaling eight steals.
• Clark was the only other player to reach double figures against Towson, scoring 11 points off the bench to go along with six rebounds.
• The Explorers won despite shooting just 29.8 percent from the field and 20.8 percent from three-point range.
• Fobbs and Jakigh Dottin each scored 12 points in defeat for the Tigers.

UP NEXT

• The Explorers will have another extended break for the holidays before they start Atlantic 10 play on Saturday, Jan. 5 at Massachusetts.