Pat Gallagher
Pat Gallagher

Late Rally Not Enough As Brandywine Falls

MEDIA, Pa. -- Faced with a 17-point deficit and less than eight minutes to play, the Penn State Brandywine men's basketball team cut Penn State Hazleton's lead to four points, but could not get closer during a 77-72 setback on Saturday afternoon.

Hazleton led 37-33 at the half and outscored Brandywine 26-13 during the opening 12 minutes of the second half, establishing a 63-46 edge when Andy Kwiatkowski buried a three-pointer that capped the run.

The Lions scored the next six points, using two baskets and a free throw from Ketquan Gatewood (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Collegiate Prep) and a free throw by Pat Gallagher (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown), to get within 11. Following a Hazleton basket, Brandywine knocked down three more free throws and saw Bryce Barrouk (Glen Mills, Pa./Rustin) connect on a fast-break triple to trim the margin to seven with 4:50 to go.

Gallagher's layup during the Lions' next possession cut the deficit to five points, but Hazleton countered with the next two buckets to vault back in front by nine.

Jordan Graves (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) started Brandywine's final push by converting a three-point play and Gatewood followed with a three-point play of his own that made the score 69-65 with 2:44 remaining.

However, the Lions would not get closer as Brett Kosiolek sank a layup to put the visitors back up by six and Hazleton made six free throws during the final 61 seconds to hold on.

Gallagher netted a team-high 24 points and added five steals, four rebounds and three assists, while Gatewood tallied a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double. Barrouk collected 16 points and Graves produced nine points and five steals.

Brandywine was limited to 33 percent shooting and 7-for-30 marksmanship from beyond the arc, while Hazleton shot 48 percent and was paced by Kwiatkowski's 34-point performance.

Brandywine is on the road Tuesday to face Penn State Lehigh Valley at 8:00 pm.