Brandywine Overcomes Sluggish Start To Rout Lehigh Valley

MEDIA, Pa. -- Amir Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Community Academy) scored all 15 of his points in the second half and Terrance Quinn (Havertown, Pa./Radnor) added seven points to spark Penn State Brandywine as the Lions outscored Penn State Lehigh Valley 50-18 during the second half and routed Lehigh Valley 75-53 on Tuesday night.

Brandywine came out sluggish in the first half, shooting just 25 percent during the opening 20 minutes, and trailed by 10 at the break, 35-25.

The Lions turned it on in the second half, scoring the first eight points behind a layup from Marcus Turner (Claymont, Del./Chichester), and a three-point play and three-pointer from Johnson. Anthony Costa (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley) buried his second triple of the half to give the Lions their first lead at the 16:01 mark.

Brandywine put the game away with a decisive 21-0 surge midway through the half. Cyrie Spencer (Sharon Hill, Pa./Academy Park) sank a pair of free throws to get the run started. Johnson followed with another three-point play and Quinn rattled in two triples in a span of 58 seconds.

Christian Hauser-Dinkins (Philadelphia, Pa./Simon Gratz) added a layup and Kevin Zwolak (Lansdowne, Pa./Shipley School) nailed a three-pointer to give Brandywine its biggest lead at 27 points.

Brandywine forced 27 Lehigh Valley turnovers with 16 of those miscues coming the second half. Johnson, Hauser-Dinkins and Isaiah Lester (Morton, Pa./Ridley) each produced four steals and Johnson added four blocked shots.

Spencer tied Johnson for the team lead with 15 points, while Johnson and Naifes Smalls (Philadelphia, Pa./PE&T Charter) eached grabbed eight boards. Smalls also tallied four assists and seven points.

Lehigh Valley made just 7-of-26 shots during the final 20 minutes and connected on 33 percent of its field goals overall. Brandywine connected on 16-of-34 second half shots and shot 84 percent (16-19) at the free throw stripe.

Brandywine (4-5, 3-1 PSUAC), winner of three games in a row, host Penn State Scranton on Friday at 7:00 pm in its final game before the holiday break.