Mont Alto Rallies To Edge Brandywine

MEDIA, Pennsylvania – Penn State Brandywine built a 13-point halftime lead, but Penn State Mont Alto made a late second-half push and topped the Lions 65-63 in PSUAC men's basketball action Sunday afternoon.

The Lions caught fire from beyond the arc during the first 20 minutes, draining 11-of-17 three-point attempts en route to a double-figure lead.

Back-to-back triples from Dimitri Burton (Philadelphia, Pa./Paul Roberson) and James Fisher (Philadelphia, Pa./Upper Darby) helped Brandywine build a 12-point cushion at the 12:44 mark of the first half.

Mont Alto cut its deficit as low as nine following Sharif Welton's three-pointer with 3:25 to play, but Brandywine answered with a 7-1 spurt, aided by five points from Fisher to push the lead to 15.

Fisher canned his fifth three-pointer of the half with 15 seconds left, but Mont Alto answered with a layup just before the halftime buzzer to make the score 46-33.

Chris Lyons (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) converted a layup to extend the lead back to 15 points with 17:27 to play; however, Mont Alto held Brandywine scoreless over the next six minutes, using a 12-0 run to get back into the game.

Kenneth Murphy (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington Carver) ended the run with a pair of free throws, but Mont Alto scored the game's next seven points, taking its first lead of the contest following Kevin Holston's three-pointer with 9:17 left.

Mont Alto led by five when Cyrie Spencer (Sharon Hill, Pa./Academy Park) brought Brandywine two points closer with two free throws. Fisher knotted the score at 60-60 with a three during the Lions' next possession.

Siele Johnson answered with a jumper for Mont Alto, but Amir Davis (Philadelphia, Pa./Walter Palmer Charter) re-tied the game with a pair of shots from the charity stripe with 2:58 to play. Johnson connected for another basket for Mont Alto at the 2:32 mark, but Brandywine drew one point closer after Davis knocked down 1-of-2 free throws.

Corey Meyers made the Brandywine deficit two by sinking 1-of-2 free throws with 30 seconds left. After a missed shot by Brandywine, the Lions were forced to foul. Welton was unable to connect on his two free throws with five seconds to play, but Brandywine could not get a final shot, falling two points short.

Fisher led the Lions with 22 points, including six threes, and grabbed five rebounds. Pat O'Neill (Morton, Pa./Ridley) added 13 points and eight boards, while Murphy pulled down nine rebounds.

Brandywine shot 34 percent from the field, but made just 3-of-20 shots during the second half. The Lions held a 40-35 edge on the boards.

Mont Alto received 24 points and seven rebounds from Welton.

Brandywine travels to Penn State Lehigh Valley on Thursday for an 8:00 pm game.