Hot-Shooting Lehigh Valley Downs Brandywine

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Lehigh Valley shot 57 percent from the field and held off Penn State Brandywine 95-82 in Penn State University Athletic Conference men's basketball action Saturday afternoon.

Brandywine overcame a double-figure deficit during the first half, taking the lead for the first time at 29-28 on a layup from Dean Kane (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown). The Lions had trailed 20-8 before using the three-point shot, including two from Jordan Graves (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) and one from Vince Zulli (Schwenksville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley), to get back in the game.

Bryce Barrouk's (Glen Mills, Pa./Rustin) basket with 3:02 to go in the opening half gave the Lions a four-point cushion, but Lehigh Valley scored the final six points of the period and brought a 35-33 edge into intermission.

Lehigh Valley's lead again swelled to double digits before another charge from Brandywine brought the hosts back. Consecutive baskets from Johnta Dunson (Philadelphia, Pa./Freire Charter) and Barrouk brought the count to 61-56 with 11:16 to play. Four minutes later, Devon Jones (Abington, Pa./Central) knocked down a triple that cut the Lions' deficit to two points at 68-66.

However, Najee Cash's layup with 6:46 on the clock began a run of 9-2 for the visitors and Lehigh Valley pulled away in the final minutes, making its final five shots from the field and all six of its free throw attempts during the final 3:11.

Barrouk produced a double-double by collecting team highs of 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Dunson poured in 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Kane added 12 points, five rebounds and three blocks and Graves tallied 11 points.

Talek Williams scored 18 of his game-best 30 points in the second half for Lehigh Valley.

Brandywine (2-7, 0-5 PSUAC) is back at home Monday night to face Gwynedd Mercy at 7:00 pm.