Brandywine Holds On For Sixth-Straight Conference Triumph

SHARON, Pa. – The Penn State Brandywine men's basketball team extended its conference winning streak to six games by knocking off Penn State Shenango 78-72 on Sunday afternoon.

Brandywine has claimed six-straight Penn State University Athletic Conference victories for just the second time since the 2011-12 season. Last year's team earned seven-straight league wins from Dec. 10-Jan. 29.

Bryce Barrouk (Glen Mills, Pa./Rustin) led the way for the Lions, producing game highs of 25 points and 16 rebounds. Colin Hockenbrock (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) totaled 15 points, nine boards and three steals, while Jordan Graves (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) collected 11 points and Olayinka Itabiyi (Chester, Pa./Chester) notched nine points. Johnta Dunson (Philadelphia, Pa./Freire Charter) and Jamar Wright (Wilmington, Del./Conrad School of Science) both amassed seven points. Dunson added seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

The Lions found themselves in an eight-point hole at the midway point of the first half, but  two three-pointers from Itabiyi, plus one triple each by Barrouk and Wright spurred a 14-2 Brandywine surge that gave the visitors a 23-19 edge.

Brandywine led for the duration of the opening half, extending the margin to 35-30 at the break following Barrouk's tip-in with 34 seconds to go.

Shenango started the second half by scoring six-straight points to vault in front, but Barrouk answered by burying a jumper to put the Lions back on top.

Neither team led by more than five points for the next 10 minutes before Itabiyi canned his third triple of the game, extending the Brandywine edge to 57-51.

The visitors narrowed the gap to four points on five occasions during the next three minutes, but Brandywine countered with a basket each time.

Barrouk scored six consecutive points, including a dunk with 2:41 on the clock, to stretch the lead to double figures. Brandywine withstood one final charge from Shenango, which received five points from D'Montez Owens in a 26-second span to close within five.

Dunson knocked down a free throw with 40 seconds to go and following a pair of Shenango free throws, Graves sank four shots from the charity stripe during the final 12 seconds to put the game away.

After making just three trips to the free throw line during the first 20 minutes, Brandywine trekked to the line 26 times during the second half, making 18 shots, as Shenango was whistled for 17 second-half fouls.

Shenango connected on 86 percent of its free throw attempts during the game, but made only 14 trips to the line. Brandywine also held the hosts to 6-of-29 shooting from beyond the arc.

Brandywine (8-7, 7-2 PSUAC) returns home Wednesday for a matchup with Penn State Hazleton (8:00 PM).