Lehigh Valley Fends Off Brandywine Comeback Bid

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine rallied from a 13-point deficit to take a second-half lead, but Penn State Lehigh Valley retook the lead for good with under three minutes to play and held off Brandywine 83-78 on Saturday afternoon.

Brandywine led 70-64, but nine consecutive Lehigh Valley points, including a pair of putbacks by Othniel Nyamekye, gave Lehigh Valley a 73-70 edge with 2:22 to play.

Isaiah Wilmore (Philadelphia, Pa./Ben Franklin) buried a jumper to make it a one-point game, but Nyamekye grabbed another offensive board and sank a lyup to answer Wilmore.

With 44 seconds to play, Wilmore connected on a jumper to pull Brandywine within 78-76; however Lehigh Valley sank five-of-six free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.

Lehigh Valley built a 14-2 lead five minutes into the game and pushed the advantage to 13 at the 11:11 mark, but Brandywine steadily chipped away. Wilmore's layup with four minutes to play before the half ignited a 9-0 Brandywine surge and James Fisher (Philadelphia, Pa./Upper Darby) buried a three-pointer to make the deficit just four at the break.

Brandywine opened the second half with eight-straight points, taking its first lead of the game on Shafi Mohammad's (Philadelphia, Pa./Hawbridge School (N.C.)) layup with just under 18 minutes to play.

The team's traded baskets over the next 12 minutes, with neither squad leading by more than three points until a Wilmore dunk and Fisher triple gave the Lions a 69-64 edge at the 6:10 mark. Lehigh Valley would take control however, as Brandywine managed just one point over the next 4:07.

Fisher topped Brandywine with 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting, while also pulling down a team-high nine rebounds. Wilmore added 14 points and eight boards, while Mohammad collected 12 points and eight boards. Pat Gallagher (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) chipped in 11 points off the bench.

Brandywine forced 26 Lehigh Valley turnovers, but was outrebounded 54-48.

A.J. Molettiere drained six three-pointers and paced Lehigh Valley with 25 points. Jonathan Buie added a 21-point, 15-rebound double-double.

Brandywine (1-5, 0-2 PSUAC) heads to Penn State York on Tuesday for an 8:30 pm game.