Threes Key Second-Half Run; Brandywine Reaches PSUAC Title Game

MONT ALTO, Pa. – No. 3 Penn State Brandywine knocked down six three-pointers in a seven-minute span of the second half to seize control of the game as the Lions upset top-seeded Penn State Mont Alto 65-56 to advance to the Penn State University Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Championship.

Brandywine, which avenged a 23-point loss at Mont Alto just six days ago, will face Penn State York in an all-East Division final at 6:45 PM inside the Bryce Jordan Center in State College on Saturday.

The Lions owned a 26-25 edge at halftime, but faced an seven-point deficit just 6:22 into the second half.

Trailing 40-33, a free throw from Johnta Dunson (Philadelphia, Pa./Freire Charter) and layup by Colin Hockenbrock (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) got the Lions' comeback started.

Dunson buried just his third three-point basket of the season to draw Brandywine within one at 40-39 and after a Mont Alto free throw, Jordan Graves (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) canned a triple to put the Lions on top with 9:55 to play.

Brandywine's hot shooting continued as Graves knocked down two more triples during the next two minutes, while Bryce Barrouk (Glen Mills, Pa./Rustin) added another three and Jaden Kelly (Philadelphia, Pa./GAMP) capped the Lions' 19-5 surge with a triple at the 5:24 mark.

Hockenbrock's bucket extended the margin to 11 points with 4:35 to go, but Mont Alto answered with five quick points to trim the Lions' lead to just six; however, Darrius Bush's three-pointer with 3:34 on the clock was the final field goal of the night for the hosts as Brandywine held Mont Alto to 0-for-8 shooting from the field during the final minutes.

Three free throws and a breakaway dunk by Hockenbrock during the final 56 seconds put an exclamation point on Brandywine's semifinal victory.

Hockenbrock shot 8-for-10 from the field, scoring a team-high 17 points, and added six rebounds and three assists. Barrouk produced his third double-double in as many conference tournament games with 13 points and 13 boards, while Graves tallied 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Brandywine made seven of its 10 three-pointers during the second half and shot 41 percent from the field overall, while limiting Mont Alto to 34 percent shooting. The Lions recorded 22 points off 18 Mont Alto turnovers.

Brandywine (16-17), which has won 14 of its last 17 games against PSUAC opponents following an 0-5 start to conference play, will play for its second PSUAC championship in the last four years Saturday night. The 2017-18 squad captured the first league title in the program's history.