Brandywine Drops Overtime Decision On Senior Night

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Lehigh Valley outlasted Penn State Brandywine by a score of 80-76 in overtime to claim a Penn State University Athletic Conference men's basketball victory and spoil the Lions' Senior Night on Friday evening.

Brandywine led by as many as 12 points in the second half, but Lehigh Valley rallied to tie the score at 67-67 with 27 seconds left in regulation as Jeremiah Jenkins' layup sent the game to overtime.

The teams traded baskets in the extra session before, with the Lions in front by two, Jenkins buried a three-pointer to give Lehigh Valley its first lead of the night at 74-73. Josh Smith (Glassboro, N.J./Glassboro) answered with a triple for the Lions, but Lehigh Valley countered with another three, taking the lead for good with 27 seconds to play. The visitors sank 1-of-2 free throws with four seconds left to secure the victory.

Brandywine opened the game with eight-straight points and extended its lead to 10 points by the midway point of the first half. Lehigh Valley closed within two, but Brandywine responded by reeling off 13 of the next 15 points, swelling the lead to double figures.

The visitors rallied again, using a 14-4 spurt to get within one before Pat Gallagher's (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) layup sent Brandywine into the half with a 35-32 lead.

The Lions put together seven-straight points, the last of which came on a Jacob Hunt (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) three-pointer, to move the lead to 54-42 with 11:05 to play; however, Lehigh Valley steadily chipped away, getting within six with 4:16 to go.

A Gallagher layup extended the Lions' lead to 65-57, but Brandywine was limited to just two points, on a pair of free throws by Gallagher with 1:13 to play, the rest of the way as Lehigh Valley completed its comeback to send the game to overtime.

Gallagher topped the Lions in scoring by matching a career high with 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting, while also collecting seven steals. Bryce Barrouk (Glen Mills, Pa./Rustin) added 14 points, while Smith, the team's lone senior, recorded 13 points, five assists and four rebounds. Dwayne Coleman (Philadelphia, Pa./Delaware Valley Charter) added eight points and a team-best 11 boards.

Brandywine, which shot 44 percent from the field and yielded 37 percent shooting to Lehigh Valley, was doomed by 28 turnovers, with 19 coming during the final 25 minutes.

The Lions (12-9, 8-7 PSUAC), who trail Penn State York by one game for second place in the PSUAC East, have a chance to bounce back on Saturday when they visit York for a 3:00 pm showdown.