Late Free Throws Sink Brandywine At St. Elizabeth

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Tye-Rell Monroe sank two free throws with 11 seconds remaining in regulation to lift St. Elizabeth to a 61-59 victory over Penn State Brandywine in a United East Conference men's basketball game on Wednesday night.

Brandywine limited Monroe, the United East's leading scorer, to just 3-for-16 shooting from the field, but his 15 free throws on the night were the difference as the Lions limited the Eagles to just 38 percent shooting overall.

Amari Little (Ellicott City, Md./Marriotts Ridge) topped the Lions with 19 points and added six steals and four rebounds. Alexander Derkits (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) tallied 12 points, while Jaden Fogg (Morrisville, Pa./Morrisville) collected eight points and six boards and Javon Nelson (Philadelphia, Pa./String Theory) and Joey Brusha (Abington, Pa./Abington) both registered seven points.

Brandywine trailed 19-18 with under three minutes to play in the first half, but Little ripped off 10-straight points with a pair of triples, two free throws and a layup to give Brandywine a 28-19 edge at the half.

Jamar Wright (Wilmington, Del./Conrad School of Science) sank a layup to push the margin to double figures early in the second period and Brusha gave the Lions their largest lead of the night at 40-27 by sinking a free throw at the 15:57 mark.

The Eagles chipped away at the Lions' lead, climbing within one with seven minutes to play. Four free throws from Little and Nelson's put-back layup helped Brandywine fend off St. Elizabeth for the time being, but a SEU triple and four second-chance points brought the hosts back within one with 1:38 remaining.

Monroe tied the score with a free throw at the 58-second mark and then added two more free throws to give the Eagles their first lead since late in the opening period. Little's final three-point heave was off the mark.

Brandywine forced 19 St. Elizabeth turnovers, while committing just 10 miscues, but the Lions shot just 32 percent from the field and made 14-of-24 free throws.

Brandywine (3-11, 0-5 UEC) will host Penn State Abington on Saturday at 1:00 PM.