York Storms Back To Edge Brandywine

YORK, Pa. -- Penn State York erased an 18-point, second-half deficit, rallying to knock off the Penn State Brandywine men's basketball team 81-77 on Tuesday night.

Brandywine (1-6, 0-3 PSUAC) took a five-point lead into the half following a three-pointer from Isaiah Wilmore (Philadelphia, Pa./Ben Franklin) just before the halftime buzzer and quickly grew its edge to 18 early in the second half.

Shafi Mohammad (Philadelphia, Pa./Hawbridge School (N.C.)) drained back-to-back jumpers to push the lead to 48-40 68 seconds into the final stanza. After Trent Thomas sank two free throws for York, Pat Gallagher (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) scored the game's next seven points to extend the advantage to 13 points.

Wilmore capped the Lions' 12-0 surge with five consecutive points and then buried a triple at the 16:30 mark as the Brandywine lead reached 18 points.

Joey Dwyer responded with a three-pointer for York, jumpstarting a 20-2 run for the home team that was capped by Lucas Jewell's game-tying layup with eight minutes to play.

The lead changed hands four times over the next six minutes before Jewell converted a three-point play with 1:52 remaining in regulation to give York the lead for good. Brandywine trailed by two and had possession of the ball with 20 seconds left, but York forced a turnover and Jewell connected on a pair of free throws to ice the game.

Wilmore poured in 24 points, one shy of his career high, on 8-of-14 shooting, while also adding five rebounds, three blocks and two steals.

James Fisher (Philadelphia, Pa./Upper Darby) tallied 13 points and Mohammad chipped in 11 points and seven boards for Brandywine, which shot 42 percent from the field and committed just 12 turnovers, a season low.

Jewell registered 17 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals to lead York.

Brandywine travels to Penn State Scranton on Friday for an 8:00 pm game, its last contest prior to a three-week break for finals.