Neumann Runs Away From Brandywine In Home Defeat

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine trailed by just six at halftime, but Neumann outscored the Lions 44-24 during the final 20 minutes to claim an 80-54 non-conference men's basketball victory on Wednesday night.

Alexander Derkits (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) accounted for half of the Lions' points as Brandywine led 10-6 in the early going, but Neumann scored eight of the next 12 points to tie the count at 14-all.

The Knights took the lead for the first time with a Bryan Etienne dunk at the 10:43 mark and outscored Brandywine 12-2 over the next four minutes to expand the margin to double figures. After trailing by as many as 13 points, the Lions battled back late in the half as Derkits knocked down five free throws and Jaden Fogg (Morrisville, Pa./Morrisville) buried a three-pointer and Brandywine closed the margin to 36-30 at intermission.

Neumann began to pull away early in the second period, holding Brandywine without a made field goal until Fogg's layup at the 14:36 mark. Amari Little (Ellicott City, Md./Marriotts Ridge) converted a three-point play just over one minute later to trim the Lions' deficit to 11 points; however, Neumann answered with a 12-0 surge to put the game away.

Fogg paced three double-figure scorers with 17 points and hauled in a team-high eight rebounds, while Little netted 14 points and Derkits added 12 points.

Little, Derkits and Jamar Wright (Wilmington, Del./Conrad School of Science) all pulled down five rebounds, while Damir Shelley (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) produced team-highs with four steals and three assists.

Brandywine shot 30 percent from the field and allowed 45 percent shooting by the Knights. Neumann canned 12 triples and made 14-of-15 free throws.

Brandywine (1-2) will travel to Selinsgrove, Pa., for the first round of the Susquehanna Tournament Friday evening where the Lions will battle Marymount (Va.) at 6:00 PM.