LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Zach Thomas scored 23 points and Bucknell defeated Manhattan 76-64 in the season-opening game on Friday night.

Stephen Brown and Matt O'Reilly scored 11 points apiece and Nate Sestina added 10 for the Bison, who shot 56 percent and made 10 of 14 free throws in the second half.

Thomas and Brown each made a pair of free throws sandwiched around a Jaspers turnover in the final minute of the first for a 35-31 lead. The run stretched to 9-0 early in the second half before Manhattan battled back, closing within 53-52 with 7:39 to play. But Thomas had a layup and a dunk and the Bison pulled away.

Thomas Capuano had 11 points and Zavier Turner 10 for Manhattan, which had a 45-31 rebounding advantage but committed 25 turnovers.