ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands -- Nate Buss came off the bench to score 23 points and grab 12 rebounds, both career highs, to lead Northern Iowa to a 65-50 win over La Salle and a third-place finish in the Paradise Jam tournament.

The Panthers, who lost to Maryland in the semifinals Sunday night, led by three after a half, but went on a 12-2 run early in the first half. La Salle fell to Providence in the other semifinal.

La Salle (3-4) did not score for more than six minutes at a stretch twice in the second half -- during Northern Iowa's run and again from the 7:12 mark of the half until Steve Zack converted a pair of free throws with :59 left.

Seth Tuttle had 15 points for Northern Iowa (3-3).

Zack finished with 13 points to lead the Explorers, with 10 points from Tyrone Garland.