Box score

Media, PA ... Despite a ten-point lead at the intermission, The College of New Jersey men's basketball team dropped a 78-70 decision to Penn State University-Brandywine on Tuesday night.

The Lions (0-3, 0-0  NJAC) received a strong offensive effort from sophomore Donovan Smalls (Union, NJ/Union) and 15 rebounds from senior Steve Siracusa (New Providence, NJ/New Providence), but it wasn't enough to capture their first win of the season. PSU-Brandywine shot 50 percent from the field in the second half, while knocking down 11 of 13 free throws in the final 20 minutes to claim its first win of 2010-2011.

TCNJ got off to a hot start taking a 22-6 lead in the first half. Junior Al Matlock (Trenton, NJ/Solebury)drained a three-point shot to give the Lions an early 12-6 advantage. Junior Brian Kelly (Clark, NJ/Lawrenceville Prep) hit back-to-back shots, followed by another Matlock basket before Pete Kelly (Mercerville, NJ/Notthingham) buried a trey to put TCNJ up by16 with 12:07 remaining in the opening period.

The offense, which has been plagued by streaky shooting early in the season, was 15-for-28 (53.6%) from the floor in the first half.

The host Lions (1-3) chipped away at the lead after the intermission, and when Dave Segura delivered a jump shot with 11:00 remaining, the game was tied at 52. Siracusa sank a pair of free throws to regain the lead, but it was last advantage TCNJ would enjoy for the rest of the night.

Learon Pray and Rasheed Wilkins were tough to contain down the stretch. Wilkins finished with a game-high 23 points and was 13-of-14 from the line. Pray tallied 15 points and grabbed 13 boards for Penn State.

TCNJ struggled from long range in the second half hitting just one of eight three-points attempts. They also committed a season-high 20 turnovers in the game, which is something the Lions have avoided in their first two contests.

Smalls had a season-best 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor to go along with four assists.  Siracusa had 12 points and 15 boards for his third straight double-double. Matlock scored 11 points, and Brian Kelly finished with eight points and six rebounds.

TCNJ will visit Eastern Connecticut State University on Sunday, November 29 at 1 p.m. They return to Packer Hall the following night on Monday, November 30 to host Berkeley College at 7 p.m.