Notre Dame Rallies To Top Brandywine

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine held a 10-point halftime lead, but Notre Dame of Maryland outscored the Lions 44-19 during the final 20 minutes to defeat Brandywine 66-51 in United East Conference men's basketball action on Saturday evening.

Notre Dame netted the first basket of the day before Brandywine answered with 12 of the next 14 points, fueled by a combined 10 points from Jaden Fogg (Morrisville, Pa./Morrisville) and Dillon Jones (Wilmington, Del./Hodgson Vo-Tech).

The Gators trimmed their deficit as low as one point, but Fogg responded with a three-point play at the 6:08 mark to push the Lions' lead to 20-16. Jack Swider (Conshohocken, Pa./Phil-Mont Christian Academy) caught fire for the Lions during the final minute, knocking down a pair of three-pointers as Brandywine closed the half with eight-straight points to build a 32-22 edge after 20 minutes.

Brandywine's offense went cold in the second half as the Lions misfired on eight-straight field goal attempts and two free throws to begin the period. Notre Dame errupted for a 20-0 surge, spanning the first 9:20 of the half, to vault in front 42-32.

Jones converted a three-point play for Brandywine's first points of the stanza at the 10:40 mark. Two minutes later, Ben Bass (Arlington, Va./Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School) fueled an 8-0 Brandywine spurt with six points, helping Brandywine climb within 47-44.

After Notre Dame recorded a three-point play, Bass added another layup to make the count 50-46, but that is as close as the Lions would get. Chandler Johnson canned back-to-back triples and scored 11 points overall during the final 4:45 of regulation to help the Gators pull away.

Fogg produced a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double, while Jones notched nine points and nine boards. Swider drained a trio of triples for nine points and Bass added eight points in six minutes during their respective debuts with the Lions.

Brandywine held a 43-36 edge on the boards and shot 36 percent from the field, but was hurt by 3-for-16 shooting from beyond the arc and 20 turnovers.

The Lions (3-10, 0-4 UEC) visit St. Elizabeth Wednesday for an 8:00 PM tip-off.