Pierre-Louis’ double-double leads Temple over La Salle
PHILADELPHIA >> Sophomore Nate PierreLouis finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds for his first career double-double and Temple held off La Salle 75-67 in a season opener on Tuesday night.
Quinton Rose scored 15 to pace Temple, while Shizz Alston Jr. added 13 points and eight assists.
Ernest Aflakpui had 10 points and eight boards as the Owls outrebounded the Explorers 50-28 and spoiled the debut of firstyear La Salle coach Ashley Howard.
Isiah Deas hit four 3-pointers and scored a game-high 23 points for La Salle.
Pookie Powell added 14 points and Traci Carter and Miles Brookins both scored 10.
Temple led 31-30 when Pierre-Louis broke loose for a dunk that keyed an 8-2 spurt and the Owls led the rest of the way.
Alston Jr.’s 3-pointer stretched the lead to double figures midway through the second half.
Both teams struggled on offense with Temple connecting on 22 of 57 shots from the floor (39 percent), while the Explorers made 22 of 62 shots (35.5 percent).
The Owls hit 26 of 36 free throws, while La Salle sank 15 of 18.
PENN 72, GEORGE MASON 71 >> A.J. Brodeur scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and his free throw with 20 seconds left to play allowed Pennsylvania to escape George Mason with a 72-71 season-opening victory on Tuesday night.
It was Penn’s first victory over the Patriots in four meetings.
The defending Ivy League champions trailed most of the way but cut the deficit to a single point twice down the stretch.
Antonio Woods hit a jumper and got to the basket for a layup to get within one, 64-63 with 5:01 left.
His layup with 3:07 left got the Quakers within one again and Brodeur put them ahead with a layup with 2:17 to play.
Woods tied it a 71-71 with a minute to go and Brodeur hit the second of two free throws for the win.
Michael Wang finished with 14 points for Penn and Woods contributed 10 points, all in the second half.
Jarred Reuter finished with 15 points and Justin Kier and Otis Livingstone II each added 12 for the Patriots.