Fayette Rallies To Knock Off Brandywine

LEMONT FURNACE, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine built a nine-point, second-half lead, but Penn State Fayette used a 27-5 run spanning nearly 10 minutes to overtake the Lions and record an 86-72 victory on Saturday afternoon.

Fayette led 15-8 during the early going, but Brandywine netted 12-straight points via three baskets from Cyrie Spencer (Sharon Hill, Pa./Academy Park) and three-pointers by Isaiah Lester (Morton, Pa./Ridley) and Terrance Quinn (Havertown, Pa./Radnor) to surge into the lead.

The Lions grew their lead to 12 points after holding Fayette scoreless for nearly six minutes. Kenneth Murphy (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington Carver) and Naifes Smalls (Philadelphia, Pa./PE&T Charter) both knocked down free throws and Kevin Zwolak (Lansdowne, Pa./Shipley School) capped a 9-0 spurt with a triple to make the lead 29-17.

Brandywine led by five at the half and pushed its edge to nine points with 16:24 to play when Spencer converted a three-point play, but Brandon Cunningham started the game's decisive 27-5 run with five-straight points 12 seconds later.

Smalls' layup at the 6:13 mark ended Fayette's surge, but Brandywine would trail by double figures the rest of the way.

Spencer led four Lions in double-figure scoring with 18 points, while Murphy knocked down 10-of-11 free throws and produced a double-double by also grabbing 10 boards.

Smalls added 15 points, nine rebounds and three assists and Quinn contributed 13 points.

Brandywine made 45 trips to the free throw line, but sank just 26, while Fayette shot 47 percent from the field. Cunningham topped Fayette with 26 points before fouling out.

Brandywine (4-11, 3-4 PSUAC) visits Penn State Lehigh Valley on Wednesday at 8:00 pm. The Lions defeated PSLV 75-53 at home on Dec. 8.