Box Score

GLASSBORO, NJ – Guard Mike Thornton posted a double-double with 29 points and 10 rebounds to lead Penn State Brandywine over Widener University, 74-73 in the first round of the Heritage’s Dairy Stores Classic on Friday night.

The Lions improve to 5-1 with the win, while the Pride drop to 8-1 with their first loss of the season. Penn State Brandywine will play the winner of Valley Forge Christian College and Rowan University in the championship on Saturday at 3 p.m. Widener faces the loser in the consolation game at 1 p.m.

Thornton hit nine field goals on 20 attempts. He was four for nine from three point territory and seven for eight at the free throw line. He grabbed nine defensive boards and one on offense, in addition to one assist and one steal.

Forward Jamil Nelson also posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Nelson also had three assists. Center Joshua Etheridge added eight points, six rebounds and three assists, while guard Nagbae Saylee contributed 10 points.

Widener was led in scoring by guard Charles Jones with 20 points. He also had five steals, four assists and two rebounds. He was seven for 15 from the floor and five for eight at the free throw line. Forward Matt Sosna had nine points and 10 rebounds. Guard Nyere Miller totaled 12 points and three assists.

Widener held two six-point leads in the first half, but fell behind Penn State Brandywine, 29-28 with 4:21 remaining on a three point shot from Thornton. The Lions closed out the half with one layup each from Thornton and Saylee to go into halftime with a 35-34 lead. Thornton led all scorers with 16 points, followed by Etheridge with six and Saylee with five. Jones was Widener’s top scorer with eight points.

The Pride tied the game 15 seconds into the second half on a free throw from Sosna. Forward Jamarr Johnson hit a layup at 19:11 to give Widener a 37-35 lead. The Pride held onto the lead until 11:01, when a three-pointer from Thornton tied the game at 53-53. Widener regained control 14 seconds later on a jump shot from guard Tavaris Smith, but guard Andrew Thornton connected on two free throws to tie the score at 58-58 with 7:40 remaining in the game. The teams continued to swap leads until 2:41, when Mike Thornton made a three-pointer to put the Lions up, 70-67. The Pride managed to narrow the gap to one point three times throughout the remainder of the contest, but layups from Nelson, Etheridge and Mike Thornton proved to be too much as the Lions held on for the 74-73 victory.