(MEDIA, Pa.) – A valiant comeback attempt came up just short as Wilson fell to Penn State Brandywine in the final road game of the regular season. The Phoenix had trailed by as many as 17 before cutting the deficit down to one and falling by two.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 82, Penn State Brandywine 84
Venue: Brandywine Commons
Records: Wilson 10-14, 8-7 UE; Penn State Brandywine 7-17, 4-11 UE
How It Happened
- The contest started out well for the Wilson Blue and White as they took an eight-point lead on the Nittany Lions in the opening seven minutes. The Phoenix benefitted from the perimeter as Armani Jones (Jr., Chicago, Ill. / Christ The King / Bryant & Stratton) and Winston Raford (So., Woodbridge, Va. / Forest Park) both hit triples to make it 15-7 at that point. A pair of Jalen Pierce (Jr., Richmond, Va. / Collegiate / Millersville) free throws gave Wilson its largest lead at 27-18. He added a jumper later to make it 34-26 before the Nittany Lions started to rally. A 12-2 run by Brandywine followed before Gary Robertson (Gr., Washington, D.C. / Potomac / Bryant & Stratton) closed the frame with a layup to tie the game at 38-all.
- Brandywine kept the momentum at the start of the second half with a 17-6 run capped by a Jamar Wright layup. Robertson started to heat up with a 3-pointer and a trio of layups on consecutive Phoenix trips down the floor, but each time Brandywine was able to counter. The hosts eventually led by 17 after a pair of free throws made it 72-55 with 7:32 left in regulation.
- Trea Keys (Sr., Columbia, Md. / Wilde Lake / Howard C.C.) put the comeback in motion with a pair of 3-pointers and Nirobi Peeler Jr. (Jr., Largo, Fla. / Clearwater) followed suit with another to make it 75-67 in a span of 93 seconds. The 3-point part continued as Brandywine got into the mix on a jumper from Amari Little, but it was quickly answered by Peeler Jr. After a miss by Penn State on its next trip, a Jones triple made it 75-70 with 3:57 to go. Keys broke the trend with a layup 51 seconds later to make it a one possession game.
- Another Peeler Jr. 3-pointer got the Phoenix within two with seven seconds left before teams started to go to the free throw line. Little hit a pair after a quick foul, but Pierce made three to make it 83-82 after he was fouled on a long range attempt with three seconds left. Wilson sent Brandywine to the line where the Nittany Lions made the first. Pierce was able to grab the front end, but time expired before Wilson could get a shot off.
Inside The Numbers
- Robertson finished with a game-high 21 on a strong night where he made 8-for-13 overall and was 2-for-4 on 3-point attempts.
- Peeler Jr. was hot once again as he poured in 18 and was 4-for-8 from distance.
- Keys pitched in 15 and was 6-for-10 overall and 2-for-4 on triples. He pulled down five rebounds and dished out a team-high four assists.
- Pierce finished with a dozen markers and six boards.
- Jones was two points shy of a double-double after he pulled in 14 caroms for co-game high honors with Brandywine's Dillon Jones.
- Wilson matched its season-low in turnovers with just seven miscues. Both games were against Brandywine.
- Brandywine was led by Joey Brusha and Little with 17 points each.
Up Next
Senior Day awaits the Phoenix as they host Cairn in the regular season finale.
