Brandywine Edged At Schuylkill 78-74

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. – Penn State Schuylkill outscored Penn State Brandywine 8-1 during the final 1:40 to claim a 78-74 victory in Penn State University Athletic Conference men's basketball action on Tuesday night.

Brandywine trailed 70-69, but a jumper from Ketquan Gatewood (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Collegiate Prep) and two Gatewood free throws during the Lions' ensuing possession put the Lions on top 73-70.

Tariq Meredith answered with a basket, while Khari Thompson collected a steal and fast-break layup to vault the hosts back in front. Bryce Barrouk (Glen Mills, Pa./Rustin) tied the score at 74-74 with 40 seconds left, sinking the back end of two free throw attempts, but Meredith was fouled with 23 seconds left and knocked down two shots from the free throw line. Two more Schuylkill free throws secured the victory with two seconds remaining on the clock.

Gatewood scored 18 of his game-high and career-high tying 27 points during the second half, but Brandywine was outscored 47-36 after leading by seven points at intermission. He added 15 rebounds, with seven coming on the offensive end of the floor, while Andrew Persaud (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion) matched his career best with 25 points.

Brandywine closed the first half with an 18-7 run to grab a 38-31 edge; however, Schuylkill steadily trimmed the margin during the opening eight minutes of the final period, tying the score at 50-50 on Lamonttea Brown's layup at the 12:03 mark.

For the next eight minutes, the teams traded baskets with neither leading by more than two points until Devin King buried a triple for the hosts, putting Schuylkill on top 65-60. Three of Brandywine's next four possessions ended in made three-pointers, with Persaud knocking down two and Gatewood one, to get the Lions within one at 70-69.

Brandywine shot 46 percent from the field and buried nine three-pointers, but was marred by 23 turnovers. Barrouk chipped in 13 points, while Pat Gallagher (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) contributed six assists and five rebounds and Johnta Dunson (Philadelphia, Pa./Freire Charter) added seven points and seven boards.

Brandywine (4-6, 2-4 PSUAC) hosts Penn State Wilkes-Barre in its final game before the semester break Friday night at 8:00 pm.