Brandywine Drops Home Finale To Wilkes-Barre

MEDIA, Pa. -- The Penn State Brandywine men's basketball team completed the home portion of its schedule, falling to Penn State Wilkes-Barre by a count of 62-56 on Tuesday night.

Brandywine grabbed an 11-10 lead following a Joey Brusha (Abington, Pa./Abington) free throw at the 14:06 mark of the first half, but Wilkes-Barre answered with nine-straight points. The visitors led by as many as 11 points on two occasions during the final 9:30 of the period before Brandywine battled back in the closing minutes.

Trailing 32-24, Olayinka Itabiyi (Chester, Pa./Chester) drilled a three-pointer with 1:19 to go and Johnta Dunson (Philadelphia, Pa./Freire Charter) followed with a layup 36 seconds later to bring the Lions within three at the break.

Wilkes-Barre extended its lead to seven points early in the second, but Brandywine made a push, taking a one-point edge following an 8-0 spurt. Brusha canned a pair of triples, including one that gave the Lions a 41-40 edge, and Dunson added a bucket to aid in the run.

Following Brusha's triple at the 14:30 mark, Brandywine's offense went cold for the next five minutes and Wilkes-Barre took advantage, ripping off six-straight points.

Dunson ended the scoreless spell with a three-point play and converted a second three-point play just over two minutes later to knot the count at 47-47, but the visitors again had an answer, countering with seven of the next eight points.

Brandywine trimmed the margin to 56-52 following two Itabiyi free throws with 2:53 to play, but could not get any closer. Wilkes-Barre sank all six of its free throws during the final 36 seconds to secure the victory.

Dunson paced the Lions with a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double, while Brusha and Devon Jones (Philadelphia, Pa./Central) both tallied 10 points. Itabiyi chipped in nine points and Colin Hockenbrock (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) grabbed eight boards.

Wilkes-Barre held a 55-37 edge on the boards and limited Brandywine to 30 percent shooting, including a 7-of-30 mark from three-point range.

Brandywine (8-16, 8-10 PSUAC) will wrap up the regular season Friday at Penn State York (8:00 PM).