Brandywine Ends Skid With Win At Scranton

SCRANTON, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine eliminated an 11-point halftime deficit as the Lions outscored Penn State Scranton 54-33 during the final 20 minutes to post a 92-82 triumph on Friday night.

Scranton built its 49-38 halftime edge behind 16 points from Jeff Griffin, but Brandywine limited Griffin to just five points during its second half rally, ending the Lions' five-game winless skid.

Brandywine opened the second half with seven-straight points as a Cyrie Spencer (Sharon Hill, Pa./Academy Park) jumper and three-pointer sandwiched four points from Shafi Mohammad (Philadelphia, Pa./Hawbridge School (N.C.)).

The Lions tied the game for the first time since early in the opening half when Naifes Smalls (Philadelphia, Pa./PE&T Charter) sank two free throws at the 14:55 mark, part of a 14-0 Brandywine surge. Spencer capped the run with a jumper, giving the Lions a 64-58 advantage.

The Lions' lead reached 14 points following a basket by Mohammad with 7:42 to play, but Scranton scrapped back, fighting within five with four minutes remaining.

Isaiah Wilmore (Philadelphia, Pa./Ben Franklin) answered the Scranton run with a bucket and Smalls followed with a three-pointer to push the lead back to double figures. Two minutes later, Wilmore capped the Lions' first conference victory with a breakaway dunk.

Wilmore and Mohammad each scored 22 points to lead Brandywine. Mohammad also pulled down 10 rebounds for his first-career double-double.

Smalls just missed a double-double by registering 10 points and nine boards, while Spencer added 12 points and James Fisher (Philadelphia, Pa./Upper Darby) tacked on 17 points.

Brandywine shot 48 percent from the field and held a 34-31 edge on the boards, while holding Scranton to 38 percent shooting.

Brandywine (2-6, 1-3 PSUAC) faces Maine-Fort Kent on Dec. 29 at 6:00 pm in the first game of its home holiday tournament.