York Outlasts Brandywine 75-67

MEDIA, Pa. -- In a matchup of third-place teams in Penn State University Athletic Conference men's basketball, Penn State York came out on top, besting Penn State Brandywine 75-67 on its home floor Saturday afternoon.

The first half was a battle as York made numerous runs, but Brandywine, which saw its five-game winning streak come to an end, had an answer each time.

Trailing 11-9, York collected nine-straight points to go in front by seven. Brandywine got within one on a jumper by Bryce Barrouk (Glen Mills, Pa./Rustin) and then knotted the score at 24-24 when Barrouk buried a three-pointer with 5:09 to go in the half.

Jacob Hunt (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) added two free throws to put Brandywine on top, but York countered with eight consecutive points to retake the lead. Hunt kept Brandywine close with a triple and two more free throws, but York's Connor Hostetter sank a bucket with 33 seconds to go, sending the visitors to a 38-34 halftime edge.

Josh Smith (Glassboro, N.J./Glassboro) knocked down a three-pointer to start the second half, beginning a 15-6 Brandywine spurt that helped the Lions move in front. Hunt pushed the lead to 49-44 by canning a long three-pointer, while being fouled. He added the ensuing free throw for the rare four-point play.

York battled back, holding Brandywine to just two field goals during a span of 7:10 midway through the half as the visitors vaulted back in front, taking a 57-53 lead on Michael Coleman's layup with 8:07 to play. Barrouk's triple at the 6:32 mark got the Lions within 59-58; however, York responded by reeling off a 10-1 run to gain a double-figure advantage for the first time.

Hunt sank two free throws and followed with a triple during the Lions' next possession to trim the deficit to seven with under one minute to go, but the Lions would get no closer, coming up empty during their final two possessions.

Hunt stuffed the stat sheet with 22 points, seven assists and six rebounds, while Smith and Barrouk both tallied 12 points off the bench. Brandywine buried 10 three-pointers, but was outsized in the paint, allowing York to hold a 47-27 rebounding margin.

Brandywine (8-5, 4-3 PSUAC) hosts first-place Penn State Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday night at 8:00 pm.