WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Livingstone Cross recorded his fifth-straight double-double including a career-high 21 rebounds to lead Penn College in a 73-55 victory in the United East men's basketball opener against Penn State Brandywine on Tuesday night. The Wildcats begin the conference season 1-0, 3-4 overall, while dropping the conference newcomer Nittany Lions to 0-1, 2-5 overall.

How it happened: Penn College jumped out to a 19-10 lead after Donnie Bass Briscoe and Joe Savage layups midway through the first half. Brandywine came back to tie the game four times before heading to the break with a slim, 33-31 lead. 

Cross had just two points and was already on his way to his career night with 11 rebounds in the first half before dropping in the first points of the second half to retie the game at 33.

After the Nittany Lions tied the game at 39-39 with a 3-pointer, the Wildcats' Ronn Flood, Jr., responded with a triple on the other end to spark a 15-3 run over a four-minute stretch to get the lead up to 12 (54-42) with 10 minutes remaining as it was enough for the Wildcats to get the victory.

Inside the box: Cross bested his previous career-high of 18 rebounds he set last Wednesday at Lebanon Valley and finished with a game-high 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting and 6-for-8 at the line. Bass Briscoe (13) and Savage (11) joined Cross in double-figure scoring while Gavin Barrett aided the Wildcats with nine points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals. 

Penn College shot 46.6% (27-58) while its defense limited Brandywine to just 29.7% shooting (19-64) and grabbed 38 of 50 total rebounds at the Brandywine basket.

Up next: Penn College hosts Alfred University in nonconference action on Tuesday at 7 p.m.