Brandywine Opens Season With 12-Point Victory Over Central Penn

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine got its 2021-22 men's basketball season started with a 12-point victory over Central Penn College on Saturday, winning 86-74 on its home court behind a balanced scoring effort.

Bryce Barrouk (Glen Mills, Pa./Rustin) carried the scoring load early for Brandywine as he netted 14 of the Lions' first 16 points and Brandywine ran out to a 16-6 lead through four minutes.

Brandywine moved the margin to 11 points following Jordan Graves' (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) three-pointer at the 14:17 mark, but the Knights responded with the next 11 points to tie the score three minutes later.

The Lions countered the Knights' run with one of their own, surging in front after scoring 15-straight points. Jamar Wright (Wilmington, Del./Conrad School of Science) and Vince Zulli (Schwenksville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) drained consecutive three-pointers, while Dillon Jones (Wilmington, Del./Hodgson Vo-Tech) added a three-point play and a layup. Barrouk capped the scoring run with a layup at the 6:15 mark.

Central Penn cut its deficit to single digits with three minutes to play in the half, but four points from Johnta Dunson (Philadelphia, Pa./Freire Charter) and a Dean Kane (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) triple sent Brandywine into halftime leading 46-33.

The Knights got as close as four points down twice during the first 12 minutes of the second half, but each time Brandywine had an answer. First, Tim Mattern (Lincoln University, Pa./Salesianum) sank two free throws and later, Kane made a layup that opened a 6-0 Brandywine spurt.

Brandywine, aided by 8-for-8 shooting at the free throw line down the stretch, never let Central Penn get closer than seven points down the rest of the way and earned its first season-opening home triumph since 2000.

Barrouk led all scorers and produced a 20-point, 13-rebound double-double. Dunson added 16 points and seven boards, while Graves chipped in 11 points and four assists.

All 10 players who saw time for Brandywine got in the scoring column and grabbed at least one rebound. The Lions held a 56-44 edge on the board and made 17-of-21 free throws, while shooting 40 percent from the field.

Brandywine (1-0) is on the road for the first time Monday night when the Lions visit Moravian at 7:00 pm.