PHILADELPHIA - Juniors Scott Spencer and David Beatty led four players in double figures with 16 points apiece, but the La Salle University men's basketball team suffered a 76-65 defeat at the hands of VCU on Saturday afternoon at Tom Gola Arena. The Explorers trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half but cut the margin to three on two separate occasions before the Rams pulled away at the end.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The start was a good one for the Explorers, as a steal from freshman Ayinde Hikim led to a Spencer fast-break layup and a three-pointer by the 6-6 guard pushed the home team in front, 5-0, at the 17:44 mark.
• From there, the Rams scored the next 21 points to take a 16-point lead. Over the span of 8:34, La Salle went 0-for-9 and committed five turnovers.
• A three-pointer from Mike'L Simms extended the advantage to 28-11, before the Explorers mounted a charge to close the half. 
• Senior Saul Phiri connected on a three-pointer to close the scoring in the period and pull La Salle within nine at 33-24.
• Spencer led the team with 10 points while 11 first-half turnovers by the Explorers led to 11 points for the Rams.
• Two threes by VCU to open the second-half scoring pushed the visitors in front, 38-24, before a 10-0 run by La Salle got Tom Gola Arena back into it.
• Spencer and Beatty each hit three-pointers, with Beatty also capping the spurt with a transition layup that forced VCU to call timeout.
• The two teams went back and forth for the next four minutes before a driving layup by Phiri brought La Salle to within a single possession at 46-43 with 12:36 on the clock.
• VCU tried to pull away, opening up the margin to as many as 14 points with 6:29 remaining in the second half. 
• La Salle continued to fight and once again scored double digits consecutively, this time running off 11 straight to make it a 65-62 game with 3:21 remaining.
• The catalysts were against Spencer and Beatty, who knocked down trifectas at the beginning of the run.
• After a floater in the lane by freshman Ayinde Hikim brought La Salle within three, VCU's Nah'Shon Hyland connected on a three-pointer that began a 9-0 run for the Rams to essentially put the game out of reach. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• After committing 11 turnovers in the first half, La Salle did a much better job valuing the basketball in the second with just five turnovers.
• The Explorers connected on 12 three-pointers, with Spencer and Beatty each knocking down four. 
• Free throw shooting was a factor in the game, with La Salle hitting just three of its 10 attempts from the charity stripe. VCU went 14-of-19 (73.7%).
• Sophomore Ed Croswell had 11 points and three steals while Phiri added 11 points for the Explorers, who dropped their fifth straight game and fell to 10-9 overall and 1-6 in the Atlantic 10.
• VCU, who improved to 15-5 and 5-2 in A-10 play, was led by Marcus Santos-Silva (16 points, nine rebounds) and Hyland (15 points, 5 assists).

UP NEXT

• La Salle hosts Saint Louis as part of a men's and women's basketball doubleheader at Tom Gola Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
• Tipoff for the men's game is scheduled for 8:00 p.m., and the first 400 students in attendance will receive a free t-shirt courtesy of Kampus Klothes.
• A post-game dance party will also be held on the Tom Gola Arena floor for students, in partnership with Late Night La Salle.