ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Eastern University Men's Basketball shot 66 percent from the floor in a 53-point second half and pulled away to a 92-76 win over the visiting Penn State Brandywine Lions (3-4). Victor Peña scored 20 points and added 11 rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench to lead five players in double-figures in his second game back.

How It Happened:
The Eagles (4-4) held a 39-37 lead at the half, but the Lions grabbed a lead on the opening possession on a 3-pointer from Bryce Barrouk. Eastern answered with consecutive 3-pointers from Clifton Adams and Gabe Perez. As would become a pattern for the second half, both baskets came off passes out of the post. Michael Bowlers made the passes on the first two, but Eastern's three post players combined for ten second-half assists. William Blet had four and Peña and Bowlers each had three.

After the Eagles boosted the lead to six, the Lions again answered with a 3-pointer. Perez and Adams again hit back-to-back 3-pointers to build the lead to nine and Draig Ruff scored on a breakaway taht started with a blocked shot from Blet for a 56-45 lead less than four minutes into the second half.

Despite the success on the offensive end, the Eagles were unable to pull away as the Brandywine shooters created shots and hit from distance. They pulled to within six points with nine and half minutes to play before Adams connected on his third 3-pointer of the second half. After going scoreless in the first half, the senior guard struck for 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the second half.

The Eagles were 19-of-29 from the floor after halftime and grabbed five offensive rebounds. The consistent inside game and ball movement put the visitors under pressure and the lead grew to 23 points on Peña 3-pointer late in the shot clock on a pass from Sam Gallardo.

Behind 15 first-half points from Peña, the Eagles built a 10-point lead midway through the period, but turnovers and fouls allowed the Lions to tie the game at 29-29 late and stay within a basket at the break. The Eagles shot only 41 percent (16-of-39) from the floor in the first half and made only 2-of-12 3-pointers. Brandywine was 10-of-15 from the foul line in the first half.

The Eagles finished with 28 assists on 35 made baskets for the game. Ruff had 15 points, nine rebounds, and four assists and Blet added 13 points seven rebounds and four assists. Bowlers was 5-of-9 from the floor and finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and a team-high 6 assists. Ketquan Gatewood had 20 points to lead the Lions.

Coach Pruessner Says:
"Good to get back in the win column after a three-game skid.  With the exception of a ten minute stretch in the first half, I thought we executed well on both sides of the floor.  We did a pretty good job holding their two leading scorers in check, but we allowed a couple of other guys to really hurt us from the perimeter.  Going into conference play we can't have these defensive lapses."

"On the offensive side of the ball we had 28 assists on 35 field goal attempts.  A coach can't ask for much more than that.  Cliff Adams had a great shooting performance going 6-of-9 from the field. He had zero turnovers while handling the ball the majority of the game.  Draig has simply been a stat stuffer for us all year and tonight was no different.  Our three-headed monster down low really took control of the game dishing out 13 assists and helping our squad to out-rebound them by 15 in the second half.  We still have a long way to go and will be tested in Miami, but this is a good step." 

Up Next:
The Eagles turn their focus to exams and will wrap up the semester in the classroom before playing a pair of games at the HoopMIA D3Holiday Shootout in Miami. The Eagles will play a pair of tough opponents in SUNY Cortland and Saint Joseph's out of Connecticut. They will return home on Jan. 4 against Rowan.