Brandywine Rallies Late To Down Beaver

MEDIA, Pa. -- Faced with a nine-point, second-half deficit, the Penn State Brandywine men's basketball team rallied to claim a 62-53 victory, its fourth-straight, over Penn State Beaver on Saturday night.

Beaver set the pace during the first half, playing a low-scoring game, as the visitors jumped out to an early six-point lead. Four-straight Brandywine baskets put the Lions in front, but the lead was short-lived when Beaver netted five points during the final 49 seconds of the half to grab a 26-21 edge at the break.

The visitors outscored Brandywine 6-2 during the first 2:30 of the second half, building their largest lead of the night at 32-23. Colin Hockenbrock (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) and Devon Jones (Philadelphia, Pa./Abington) got Brandywine started on its comeback by sinking consecutive layups. Sixty seconds later, Jordan Graves (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) buried a three-pointer that brought the Lions within three.

Beaver extended its lead back to eight points with under 14 minutes to play, but Brandywine embarked on a 9-2 spurt, capped by Jaden Kelly's (Philadelphia, Pa./GAMP) three-point play, to trim the margin to one. Two minutes later, Bryce Barrouk (Glen Mills, Pa./Rustin) tied the count for the first time in the second half by burying a triple.

The next six minutes featured two ties and four lead changes before A.J. Dreger (Newtown Square, Pa./Bonner-Prendie) canned a corner three, putting Brandywine on top 54-51 at the 2:54 mark. Barrouk followed with a tip-in and Dunson added a bucket to push the lead to 58-51 with 68 seconds on the clock. Beaver knocked down two free throws, but Barrouk salted the game away for the Lions at the line, sinking four three throws during the final 37 seconds.

Barrouk produced his second double-double in as many days and seventh overall this season with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Hockenbrock added 14 points, eight boards and three blocked shots, while Dreger notched 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting.

Brandywine shot 49 percent from the field and limited Beaver to 33 percent shooting, while holding a 38-32 edge on the boards.

Following the holiday break, Brandywine (6-5, 5-2 PSUAC) will play its first four games on the road beginning January 4 at Gwynedd Mercy.