PHILADELPHIA – Led by a career game by redshirt senior Tony Washington, the La Salle University men's basketball team overcame a 16-point deficit to capture a thrilling 69-62 comeback win over George Mason from Tom Gola Arena on Saturday.
 
Washington recorded career highs in points (20) and rebounds (14), while redshirt senior B.J. Johnson finished with 18 points and nine boards for the Explorers, who improved to 11-16 overall and 5-9 in Atlantic 10 play.

After allowing the Patriots to shoot 62.1 percent in the opening half, La Salle ratcheted up the intensity on the defensive side of the ball in the second period. George Mason missed 11 of their first 12 shots to start the stanza as the Explorers used a 14-3 run to cut a 13-point halftime deficit to just two at 48-46. Overall, the Patriots shot just 20.7 percent in the second half and 1-for-9 from three-point range.

With the Explorers trailing, 52-46, redshirt junior Pookie Powell knocked down a trey to start a 9-0 run. With 8:58 left in the game, Johnson found Powell on the break for the go-ahead layup, as La Salle took a 53-52 lead. Johnson then came up with a steal and connected with Stukes for a layup to put the Explorers on top, 55-52.

Mason came back to take a three-point lead at 60-57 following back-to-back buckets from Justin Kier. But a step-back jumper from sophomore Saul Phiri and a layup from Washington catapulted the Explorers on top with 1:20 to play.

After a stop at the defensive end, Johnson connected on a mid-range jumper to put the score at 63-60. The Explorers made all six of their free throws down the stretch to seal the win and snap a three-game losing streak.
 
Graduate student Amar Stukes dropped in a layup for the game's first basket, and the Explorers forced turnovers on George Mason's first two possessions. However, the Patriots found their rhythm and scored the next three buckets to take a 7-2 lead before the first media timeout.
 
George Mason went 8-for-11 from the field to start the game and opened up a 20-8 advantage just over eight minutes into play.
 
Senior Johnnie Shuler ended the Patriots' 11-2 run with the Explorers' first three-pointer with 11:20 to go in the half. But Jaire Grayer answered with a trey of his own on George Mason's next possession, and the Patriots pushed their lead to 13 at 26-13 with 8:50 on the clock.
 
Washington scored La Salle's next six points, bringing the deficit to 11 with 6:12 until halftime. George Mason continued to shoot the lights out though and held a 45-32 lead at the break.

In addition to Washington and Johnson, Stukes added 12 points and Powell tacked on 11 for La Salle. Kier finished with a team-high 19 points for the Patriots, who fell to 12-15 overall and 6-8 in A-10 play.

La Salle concludes its three-game home swing with a showdown with nationally-ranked Rhode Island at Tom Gola Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 20. The game will air live nationally on CBS Sports Network, beginning at 7:00 p.m.