Brandywine Rides Hot Shooting To First Win

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine shot nearly 65 percent from the field and saw six players reach double-figure scoring as the Lions' men's basketball team picked up its first victory of the season by a score of 99-87 over NCAA Division III Centenary College (N.J.) on Thursday night.

Brandywine (1-1) connected on 11-of-20 three-point attempts and 37-of-57 shots from the floor overall, while holding the Cyclones (1-1) to just 35 percent (25-71) shooting. The Cyclones made just 4-of-25 shots from beyond the arc.

Shafi Mohammad (Philadelphia, Pa./Hawbridge School (N.C.)) led the way with 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting and pulled down 10 rebounds for his first-career double-double. Cyrie Spencer (Sharon Hill, Pa./Academy Park) made eight of his 11 shots from the field, finishing with 18 points, along with five boards, while Pat Gallagher (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) added 16 points and four assists.

James Fisher (Philadelphia, Pa./Upper Darby) poured in 14 points and dished out five assists and Isaiah Wilmore (Philadelphia, Pa./Ben Franklin) recorded 13 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Naifes Smalls (Philadelphia, Pa./PE&T Charter) chipped in 11 points, five assists and five rebounds.

Brandywine, which recorded its highest point total since a 103-81 victory over Penn State Lehigh Valley on November 28, 2012, took the lead for good at the 15:26 mark of the first half when Gallagher sank the first of his four triples.

Mohammad and Edward Sanchez (Allentown, Pa./Salisbury) followed with threes to help Brandywine build an 11-point lead. Centenary cut its deficit to two with 7:33 to play, but Spencer later drained a three to push the lead to six and the Lions would take a 40-34 edge into the break.

Six minutes into the second half, Gallagher's three-pointer ignited a 13-0 Brandywine run that would help the Lions pull away. Brandywine made five-straight shots from the field over a span of 1:59 as the advantage ballooned to 18.

The Lions' biggest lead of the night came with 10:48 to play when Spencer sank a layup, giving Brandywine a 74-53 edge. However, Brandywine's offense stalled during the next three minutes as Centenary held the Lions without a point and clawed within nine.

Centenary's Rashaan Spencer drained a three to make the score 78-71 with 5:28 to play, but the Cyclones would get no closer as Gallagher connected on back-to-back triples and Brandywine would lead by double figures the rest of the way.

Spencer scored 20 of his team-high 25 points in the second half to lead the Cyclones.

Brandywine is on the road for the first time this fall on Monday at Williamson Trade. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 pm.