Division II Mansfield Upends Brandywine

MANSFIELD, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine trimmed a 23-point deficit to just eight with five minutes to play before ultimately falling 82-66 at NCAA Division II Mansfield in non-conference men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon.

Matt Tomanosky's layup made the score 62-39 in favor of the home team with 10:46 remaining in regulation, but Brandywine used a three-point barrage to get back into the game.

Chris Abbonizio (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) drained a triple and added another sandwiched around a Cyrie Spencer (Sharon Hill, Pa./Academy Park) three-pointer to trim the deficit to 14.

After Abbonizio followed with a free throw and Jamil Stokes (Philadelphia, Pa./Creative Learning Academy) sank a layup, Spencer capped the Lions' 13-1 surge with a pair of baskets, making the score 68-60.

Mansfield was held without a made field goal for over six minutes, but made six trips to the free throw line, sinking five, to push its lead back to double figures. Abbonizio drilled his third three-pointer of the half and Anthony Costa (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley) brought the Lions back within nine by sinking a triple at the 2:36 mark, but the Lions would go cold from the field over the final three minutes . The Mounties scored the game's final seven points to pull away for the victory.

Abbonizio scored 13 of his career-high 15 points during the final 20 minutes, while Spencer paced the Lions with 20 points, 14 of which came in the second half. Stokes pulled down 10 rebounds and blocked five shots, while Spencer grabbed six boards and Costa tallied six points and five rebounds.

Brandywine committed a season-low 11 turnovers and forced 18 Mountie miscues, but was held to 31 percent shooting. Mansfield shot nearly 50 percent from the field and outrebounded Brandywine 53-37.

The Lions (1-3) continue non-conference play Monday at Centenary (N.J.) at 7:00 pm.