Brandywine Handles Central Penn In Season-Opening 89-67 Win

SOMERDALE, Pa. – Four players scored in double figures and Penn State Brandywine shot over 49 percent from the field as the Lions' men's basketball team began the 2022-23 campaign with an 89-67 victory at Central Penn College on Tuesday night.

Bryce Barrouk (Glen Mills, Pa./Rustin) posted team highs of 21 points, 11 rebounds and five assists for the Lions, who won their second consecutive season opener. Jordan Graves (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) netted all 16 of his points during the first half, while Devon Jones (Philadelphia, Pa./Central) poured in a career-best 14 points and Colin Hockenbrock (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) chipped in 13 points.

Brandywine connected on 13 of its 27 three-point attempts and made 35-of-71 shots from the field overall. The Lions limited the Knights to 1-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc.

Brandywine's first six baskets of the season were three-pointers as the Lions ran out to an 18-6 edge just 5:11 into the contest.

A three-point play from Dillon Jones (Wilmington, Del./Hodgson Vo-Tech) extended the Lions' lead to 27-14 near the midway point of the opening period, but Central Penn produced the game's next six points to trim the margin to seven. Graves answered with a layup and followed with his third triple of the half to swell the lead back to double figures.

Brandywine maintained a double-figure lead for the remainder of the half, pushing it to 15 points behind a three-point play from Graves and tip-in from Dillon Jones during the final minute and led 44-31 at the break.

Layups by Devon Jones, Hockenbrock and Johnta Dunson (Philadelphia, Pa./Freire Charter) to start the second stanza ballooned the margin to 18 points.

Brandywine's lead reached 20 points for the first time when Hockenbrock buried a triple during an 11-3 Lions' run and two minutes later, Barrouk handed the visitors their biggest lead of the evening at 64-41 by canning a three ball with 13:41 to play.

Hockenbrock added eight rebounds for the Lions, who held a 44-30 edge on the glass. Dunson produced eight points and six boards, while Dillon Jones tallied eight points. Tim Mattern (Lincoln University, Pa./Salesianum) handed out four assists.

Brandywine is on the road again Saturday when the Lions visit Moravian at 7:00 PM.