Late Rally Falls Short For Brandywine In Season Opener

MEDIA, Pa. -- The Penn State Brandywine men's basketball nearly overcame a 10-point deficit with under three mintues to play, but the rally fell short as the Lions dropped their season opener to crosstown rival Williamson College of the Trades by a score of 80-73 Tuesday night.

Trailing 72-62 following two free throws by Vontangoe Danzo with 2:51 to go, Brandywine climbed within three on two occasions in the final seconds. Bryce Barrouk's (Glen Mills, Pa./Rustin) putback layup with 34 ticks on the clock made the count 76-73, but Williamson drained a layup and two free throws during its final two possessions to secure the win.

Brandywine, which closed the opening half with a 9-2 run spurred by buckets from four different players, led by seven points at the break and extended the margin to double figures five minutes into the half. Barrouk sank back-to-back three-pointers and Ketquan Gatewood (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Collegiate Prep) added a layup during a 7-0 Lions' spurt that upped the lead to 49-39.

Williamson quickly countered, outscoring Brandywine 17-4 over the next six minutes to gain its first lead since midway through the opening half at 56-53.

Jacob Hunt (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) later knocked down a triple to bring Brandywine within two, but the Mechanics responded with a 12-4 run to build their largest lead of the game and hung on during a frantic final three minutes.

All five Brandywine starters saw action for more than 30 minutes with each scoring in double figures. Hunt paced the Lions with 18 points, while Gatewood missed a double-double by one rebound as he collected 13 points and a team-best nine boards.

Barrouk knocked down three triples, scoring 13 points and Pat Gallagher (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) tallied 12 points. Quentin Beasley (Philadelphia, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) collected 11 points, four rebounds and a team-high five assists.

Williamson shot 50 percent from the field and held a 45-34 edge on the boards thanks to 17 rebounds from Donzo, who also netted 14 points.

Brandywine (0-1) begins a three-game road trip Sunday in New York against Berkeley College at 1:00 pm.