Chima Lawrence
Chima Lawrence

Brandywine Displays Historic Offensive Showcase In Rout Of Davis

MEDIA, Pa. -- Backed by a historic offensive output, the Penn State Brandywine men's basketball team hammered Davis College (N.Y.) on Thursday night as the Lions exploded for 117 points during a 117-66 triumph in front of their home crowd.

Brandywine's 117 points were its top scoring output ever against a four-year opponent and its highest point total since suffering a 146-127 setback to Delaware Tech on Dec. 10, 1970. At the time, Brandywine, which was playing only its third season of varsity basketball, was still known as Penn State Delaware County and held two-year eligibility for student-athletes by conference rule.

Previously, Brandywine had reached the 115-point mark on two occasions against four-year opponents as the Lions dropped Penn College 115-66 on Feb. 28, 2008 and defeated Bard College 115-111 in overtime on Nov. 17, 2007. The victory over Bard was Brandywine's first-ever against a NCAA Division III opponent in just the Lions' second game against a Division III foe.

Brandywine's 49-point margin of victory over Penn College in 2008 had also served as its most lopsided victory ever against a four-year opponent until Thursday night. The 51-point victory over Davis is the largest margin of victory overall for the team since a Jan. 26, 2006 63-point triumph (95-32) over Penn State Wilkes Barre. Brandywine and Wilkes Barre were playing their final seasons with two-year student-athlete eligibility at the time.

All 14 student-athletes on the roster scored at least two points, recorded at least one made field goal and pulled down at least one rebound. Terrence Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Communications Tech) posted the top scoring output with 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field (7-7 FT), while Rob Tindley (Lawnside, N.J./Haddon Heights) tacked on 15 points and James Fisher (Philadelphia, Pa./Upper Darby) and Chima Lawrence (Wilmington, Del./Concord) both tallied 11. Only two players, Fisher and Brown, saw as many as 20 minutes of action, and none more than Brown's 23 minutes on the court.

Brandywine made 47 percent of its 89 field goal tries (42-89), including 13-of-37 shooting from beyond the arc, and connected on 20-of-24 free throws. Eight different players drilled a three-pointer, including Fisher and Tindley, who each record three triples.

Lawrence topped the team with seven rebounds, while Brown, Ameer Staggs (Ridley, Pa./Ridley) and Dwayne Coleman (Philadelphia, Pa./Delaware Valley Charter) all hauled in six boards. Overall, the Lions held a 52-38 edge on the boards, with 22 of their rebounds coming on the offensive side of the floor.

Brandywine was also stout defensively, setting a modern team record by forcing 37 turnovers, which the Lions converted into 46 points. Twelve players tallied steals, paced by Isaiah Lester's (Morton, Pa./Ridley) four swipes. The Lions limited the Falcons to 37 percent shooting, including 5-of-25 marksmanship from three-point range.

The rout was on from the start as Brandywine led by 10 points through 10 minutes and extended the lead to 26 points by the half. The Lions never relented, outscoring the Falcons 63-38 over the final 20 minutes.

Brandywine (4-2, 1-0 PSUAC), which boasts its first four-game winning streak since 2013, will look to keep the momentum going on Saturday against Penn State Lehigh Valley. Tip-off is slated for 3:00 pm at Lehigh Carbon Community College.