PHILADELPHIA – Four Explorers scored in double figures as the La Salle men's basketball team picked up its first win of the season in its home opener on Tuesday, 80-62, over Lincoln (Pa.) from Tom Gola Arena.

The Explorers led by as many as 24 points and gained control from the early going with a balanced attack led by redshirt sophomore Jack Clark, who had a near double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Down 7-3 early, Clark knocked down his first three-pointer of the game to ignite an 11-0 run that gave the Explorers a 14-7 lead.
• Sophomore Sherif Kenney also played a big role in the spurt, connecting on consecutive triples over a span of 22 seconds.
• The two teams went back and forth for the next 10 minutes, with La Salle unable to pull away despite a consistent offensive attack.
• With the score 29-24, following a three by the Lions, the Explorers finally got the breathing room they had been working for with a pivotal run of 14 consecutive points to close the half.
• Senior Scott Spencer had the final eight points of the stretch that pushed La Salle in front, 43-24, heading into halftime.
• Lincoln tried to get back into the game through the opening 10 minutes of the second stanza, cutting the margin to nine after a jumper by Korey Williams. Williams had a game-high 17 points.
• The Explorers, however, would have none of it, going on a 19-5 run over the next five minutes to put the game out of reach.
• Freshman Anwar Gill, seeing his first extended minutes of the season after missing the first two games due to injury, scored seven of his team's points over that stretch that helped push La Salle to its first win of the year.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Spencer had a season-best 13 points and knocked down three of La Salle's 11 three-pointers.
• The Explorers finished the game with 20 assists on 28 made field goals, led by freshman Jhamir Brickus' eight.
• In addition to Clark and Spencer, Gill (10) and junior Clifton Moore (10) each reached the double-figure scoring mark. Moore also added four blocked shots.
• Freshman Tegra Izay had an impressive collegiate debut, scoring six points and grabbing five rebounds in nearly 11 minutes of action.

UP NEXT

• La Salle is scheduled to visit Drexel on Saturday, Dec. 12. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m. 
• The game will air live on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Check local listings.