Brandywine Holds Off Schuylkill 76-70

MEDIA, Pa. -- Four players scored in double figures and Penn State Brandywine improved to 3-0 on its home floor as the Lions held off Penn State Schuylkill for a 76-70 PSUAC men's basketball triumph on Sunday afternoon.

The Lions, who are now 2-1 in league play and 3-5 overall, were led by Cyrie Spencer (Sharon Hill, Pa./Academy Park), who netted 17 points and pulled down eight rebounds, and the first-career double-double from Amir Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Community Academy). Johnson posted 13 points, 12 rebounds and five steals.

Christian Hauser-Dinkins (Philadelphia, Pa./Simon Gratz) added 11 points and grabbed five steals, while Kenneth Murphy (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington Carver) poured in 10 points.

For the second day in a row, Brandywine put in a strong effort on the defensive end, forcing 30 Schuylkill turnovers. The Lions have forced 58 turnovers over the last two games.

Schuylkill grabbed an 18-11 lead, but a pair of Dinkins' fast break layups brought the Lions within one and they took the lead minutes later after Marcus Turner (Claymont, Del./Chichester) buried a three-pointer.

Two-straight baskets from Johnson and a free throw from Murphy sent Brandywine into halftime with a 37-31 edge.

Midway through the second half, Schuylkill used an 11-2 spurt to build its largest lead at 61-53, but Brandywine battled back, holding Schuylkill scoreless for nearly five minutes during an 11-0 surge. Isaiah Lester (Morton, Pa./Ridley) delivered the big blow during the run, canning a triple that gave Brandywine a one-point lead at the 4:32 mark.

Three minutes later, after a triple from Derek Dimond knotted the score at 68-68, Lester was fouled on Brandywine's ensuing possession and sank a pair of free throws to put the Lions back in front. Dinkins doubled the lead on the next possession with a pair of free thows, but Dimond answered with two free throws at the other end for Schuylkill.

After Spencer sank a free throw, Dinkins stole Schuylkill's inbound pass and iced away the game by drilling two more shots from the line.

Dimond posted 30 points and 14 rebounds to pace Schuylkill, which shot 47 percent from the field. Brandywine connected on 39 percent of its shots and committed just 15 turnovers.

The Lions are back at home Tuesday night against Penn State Lehigh Valley at 8:00 pm.