Lions Overcome 17-Point Deficit; Fall Short In Final Minutes

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine faced a 17-point deficit in the second half, but rallied to a take a two-point lead before Penn State Fayette answered with eight of the final 11 points to escape with an 86-83 Penn State University Athletic Conference men's basketball triumph on Friday night.

The Lions were in a 44-33 halftime hole and back-to-back three-pointers from London Hoxie and Marvin Sidon pushed the Fayette lead to 17 points with 19:33 to play. Brandywine mounted a rally from the free throw line, scoring 17 points from the charity stripe during the next eight minutes.

Shafi Mohammad (Philadelphia, Pa./Hawbridge School (N.C.)) netted the Lions first seven points of the half, including five at the charity stripe. Isaiah Wilmore (Philadelphia, Pa./Ben Franklin) added four points from the line and Marcus Turner (Claymont, Del./Chichester) knocked down four free throws as Brandywine pulled within seven.

Seven-straight Fayette points doubled the visitors' lead to 14, but Brandywine once again fought back. The Lions put together a 15-1 run over the next four minutes, knotting the score at 68-68 when Edward Sanchez (Allentown, Pa./Salisbury) sank a layup with 7:55 to play.

At the 2:39 mark, Brandywine grabbed the lead for the first time as Turner buried a triple to make the score 80-78; however, Dominick Jackson answered with a layup and Sidon pushed Fayette in front with a three-pointer. Wilmore connected on a long jumper, making the score 83-82 with 44 seconds to play, but Fayette knocked down three free throws during the final 22 seconds to escape with the victory.

Brandywine shot 45 free throws, making 34, and connected on 38 percent (21-54) of its shots from the field. Wilmore produced a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Turner posted a team-best 19 points. Mohammad added 13 points, Sanchez netted 10 and Cyrie Spencer (Sharon Hill, Pa./Academy Park) pulled in nine boards.

Sidon knocked down three of Fayette's 11 triples and posted 19 points, along with five steals and three assists.

Brandywine (4-15, 3-7 PSUAC) can bounce back Saturday at home against Penn State New Kensington at 1:00 pm.