Brandywine Edges Scranton 78-70; Claims No. 1 Seed In PSUAC Tournament

DUNMORE, Pa. – Penn State Brandywine finished the regular season by winning its third-straight game, topping Penn State Scranton 78-70 in Penn State University Athletic Conference men's basketball action on Tuesday night.

The Lions trailed for a majority of the first half, falling behind by as many as nine points, before rallying during the final six minutes. Colin Hockenbrock (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) sank two free throws at the 6:00 mark to spark a 16-2 Brandywine surge to cap the half. Hockenbrock contributed eight points during the run, while Johnta Dunson (Philadelphia, Pa./Freire Charter) knotted the count at 36-all by converting a three-point play. Jordan Graves (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) gave Brandywine its first lead by burying a triple that made the count 39-36 with 1:37 to go.

After holding a five-point edge at the break, Brandywine began to pull away early in the second half. Hockenbrock, Devon Jones (Philadelphia, Pa./Abington) and A.J. Dreger (Newtown Square, Pa./Bonner-Prendie) all canned triples during an 11-0 Brandywine run that ballooned the lead to 52-38.

The Lions expanded their lead to 16 points midway through the period, but Scranton used three-point shooting to battle back to within seven just two minutes later.

Bryce Barrouk (Glen Mills, Pa./Rustin) answered the Scranton run with four-straight points and after a Scranton basket, Hockenbrock, Graves and Jamar Wright (Wilmington, Del./Conrad School of Science) sank consecutive buckets to help Brandywine regain its double-figure lead.

Hockenbrock led four double-figure scorers with 17 points, while Barrouk tallied 16 points and 12 rebounds. Dunson chipped in 11 points, seven assists and six rebounds and Dreger canned four triples, scoring 12 points. Graves added nine points.

Brandywine shot 47 percent from the field and connected on 17 of its 18 free throw attempts. The Lions recorded 17 assists on 26 made baskets.

Brandywine (16-9, 15-4 PSUAC) will be the No. 1 seed from the PSUAC East Division and host fourth-seeded Penn State Lehigh Valley Sunday at 2:00 PM in a PSUAC Tournament quarterfinal. Brandywine swept the season series from Lehigh Valley, winning both games by double figures.