Hazleton out-paces Brandywine 68-56

Media, Pa. - The Nittany Lions got back in the win column on Monday night in a 68-56 road victory at Penn State Brandywine. 68 points marked Hazleton's lowest offensive out put on the season, but the Lions were able to limit the Brandywine squad to just 18 field goals on the night and edged the home team by seven points at the charity stripe to come away with the win. 

Hazleton was dominant in the first half of the game. The Lions held Brandywine to 9-of-27 shooting while Hazleton poured in nearly 50 percent of their shooting attempts. Hazleton leapt ahead to a 9-0 advantage out of the gates as third year players Shamell Ponds and Andre Campbell along with second year Muhammad Faye combined on the early run. Brandywine got to within four points of the Nittany Lions late in the half, but with six and a half minutes remaining in the period, Hazleton went on to close out the period on a 15-5 run, capping the half with a triple by fourth year Connor Rushing to take a 42-28 advantage into the break. 

Brandywine's effort to flip the script in the second half were met with limited success. While the home squad was able to hold Hazleton to just 25 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes, Hazleton made up the difference with a 10-for-14 performance at the free throw line. Brandywine's bench pitched in with 23 points in the second half and Hazleton would score just seven points in the final five minutes of action, but the Lions never let the home team get within single digits, holding off the late run to win 68-56. 

Campbell led the Nittany Lions with 17 points in the victory, going 6-for-13 from the floor and 4-for-4 from the line with five assists and five steals to his credit. Rushing added 15 points to lead all reserves for the Hazleton squad, including three triples and five rebounds while Shamell Ponds totaled 10 points including an 8-for-9 effort at the charity stripe. Fourth year Dante Harward and third year George McConkey cleaned up on the glass as Hazleton out rebounded Brandywine 38-34, with Harward totaling 11 boards and McConkey adding 10 respectively to round out the top performers for Hazleton. 

Hazleton continues non-conference play on the road Wednesday night when the Lions travel to Scranton, Pa. to take on Marywood University at 7:00 p.m. on November 13.