PHILADELPHIA – Redshirt senior B.J. Johnson put together one of the top individual performances from a La Salle University men's basketball player in recent memory, scoring 29 points and pulling down a career-high 23 rebounds against No. 18 Rhode Island. But the Explorers came up just short in their upset bid, dropping a 95-93 overtime decision to the Rams at Tom Gola Arena at TruMark Financial Center on Tuesday.

Johnson became the first La Salle player to register 20 or more rebounds in a game since the late Rasual Butler grabbed 20 on Nov. 8, 2001 against Morris Brown University. The 6-7 forward is also the first Explorer to score more than 20 points to go along with 20+ rebounds since Lionel Simmons put up 29 points and 20 boards against Army on Feb. 27, 1990.

The 23 rebounds is one shy of the Atlantic 10 record for rebounds in a game, set by George Washington's Yinka Dare on Feb. 6, 1993, and ties him for the second-most in a single game in NCAA Division I this season.

Early on, the La Salle defense was a key early as the Rams missed their first four shots from the floor. Coming off a career game in La Salle's win over George Mason on Saturday, redshirt senior Tony Washington made La Salle's first two baskets of the contest, and then a three-pointer by sophomore Saul Phiri gave the Explorers a 7-0 lead to open the game.

Rhode Island gathered itself after that and stood within just a point after a Jared Terrell jumper cut the La Salle lead to 13-12. Johnson scored the next five points, the Explorers continued to make plays on the defensive end, leading to a dunk and a layup by freshman Miles Brookins, giving La Salle a 22-14 lead after a 9-2 run.

The Explorers maintained control and extended their advantage to 12 on a pair of free throws by senior Johnnie Shuler, making it 30-18 with 7:12 left in the first half.

However, the momentum quickly swung in Rhode Island's favor. The Rams worked a 12-0 run and tied the game at 30 apiece with 4:30 until intermission after back-to-back threes by E.C. Matthews and Terrell. After a timeout, Rhode Island took its first lead on a Matthews jumper.

Johnson later hit a three to put the Explorers back on top, but five quick points from Stanford Robinson led to a 39-37 halftime lead for Rhode Island.

Johnson, who achieved his double-double in the first half, wasted no time adding to his total in the second half, taking a pass from Washington and throwing it down with authority to tie the game at 39 all just 10 seconds into the half. La Salle regained the lead 2:39 later, as Brookins converted a three-point play to give the home team a 44-43 advantage.

Brookins continued to be a shining light for the Explorers, scoring nine of La Salle's first 15 points of the second period and keeping the Explorers close, down 55-52, with 13:06 remaining. Phiri then hit from beyond the arc to make it a two-point game just over a minute later.

Rhode Island extended its lead to 66-60, but La Salle remained persistent and pulled within three, 67-64, with 5:30 to go. A pair of foul shots by Johnson brought the Explorers within just two, and he later made a layup to keep the difference at two, 72-70.

Robinson crashed the offensive glass and finished off a three-point play to give the Rams a 77-70 advantage with 3:04 to play, but the Explorers answered.

Graduate student Amar Stukes knocked down a pair of free throws, and then Johnson dropped in a layup to make it 77-74. Then it was Johnson again, this time converting two from the line to pull La Salle within just one with 50 ticks on the clock.

With the Rams leading, 81-78, redshirt junior Pookie Powell knocked down a free throw and then purposely missed the second. Washington corralled the rebound and laid it in to tie the game at 81 all. Rhode Island missed a half-court heave, and the game went into overtime.

In the extra frame, the Rams opened up a three-point lead but after a Johnson layup and two Stukes free throws knotted the score again at 87-87. Two layups by Cyril Langevine then gave Rhode Island a four-point advantage with 2:28 left.

La Salle pulled within one on a couple occasions down the stretch but Rhode Island converted from the charity stripe when it mattered most and hung on for the 95-93 victory.

Five different players scored in double figures for both teams. In addition to Johnson, Phiri chipped in with 16 points, Brookins had a career-high 13 points, with Powell and Stukes adding 12 and 11 points, respectively. Jeff Dowtin had a team-high 25 points and seven assists for the Rams, who also received 20 points from Stanford Robinson.

The Explorers hit the road for their next matchup against Fordham on Saturday, Feb. 24. Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m.