Late Run Lifts Mont Alto Over Brandywine

MONT ALTO, Pa. – Penn State Brandywine held a one-point edge with 12 minutes to play, but Penn State Mont Alto outscored the Lions 35-22 the rest of the way and defeated the Lions 75-63 in Penn State University Athletic Conference men's basketball action on Tuesday night.

A layup from Johnta Dunson (Philadelphia, Pa./Freire Charter) gave Brandywine a 41-40 lead eight minutes into the second half before Mont Alto surged into the lead with seven-straight points. Dillon Jones' (Wilmington, Del./Hodgson Vo-Tech) trimmed the margin to four when he knocked down a three-pointer at the 6:21 mark; however, Mont Alto pulled away late, extending its lead to as many as 16 points during the final minutes.

The hosts scored the night's first eight points, but Brandywine battled back, taking the lead for the first time following Casey Caruso's (Harrisburg, Pa./Lower Dauphin) bucket with 2:38 remaining on the first-half clock.

After bringing a one-point advantage into halftime, Brandywine fell behind 38-33 early in the second period. Dunson's layup capped an 8-2 Brandywine spurt that put the Lions on top before Mont Alto's late surge.

Colin Hockenbrock (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) scored 14 of his team-high 17 points during the second half and collected five steals, while Dunson notched 15 points and a team-best seven rebounds. Jones and Caruso both added eight points.

Brandywine forced 25 Mont Alto turnovers, but allowed the hosts to shoot 46 percent. The Lions shot 38 percent from the field.

Brandywine (4-9, 4-5 PSUAC) will play its final non-conference game Wednesday at Lancaster Bible at 7:00 PM.