Basketball runs in the Powell blood, with twin brothers Bryan and Brandon from Middletown, N.Y., following in their favorite childhood sport footsteps and playing for the Pace University Men's Basketball Team together. Playing in their very first undefeated season at the age of five, the Powell brothers have always had a synchronized connection on and off the court.

Brandon Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush / FDU) is nearing the end of his collegiate playing career and was recently honored as part of the Setters' Senior Day presentations on Feb. 21. At his side was Bryan Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Canterbury School), who has one more year of eligibility left on his basketball journey with the Setters. Brandon is a senior student-athlete majoring in General Business. Bryan was a finance major, currently pursuing his master's.

Both twins hit the 1,000-point career plateau this season. Brandon hit the mark on Dec. 3 in a Pace win against Southern New Hampshire. He transferred to Pace from Fairleigh Dickinson University last season with 462 points to his career statline. To date, Brandon has scored 893 with Pace. On Feb. 21, Brandon broke the 3-point record for Pace with 11 made; scoring a career-best 44 points en route to a senior day win.  Bryan became the 38th Setter in history to score 1,000 points on Feb. 11 in a loss at Bentley.  With 1,078 points, Bryan sits at 33rd on the Setters all-time scoring list as hhe averages 14.4 points per game this season; 12.5 in three years on the court at Pace. Both Powell brothers hope to continue their skills by playing basketball professionally. Combined, the Powell brothers average 13.5 points per game for Pace; with All-NE10 First and Third Team accolades shared and All-Met First and Second Team honors. The Setters have won back-to-back 20-win seasons with a two-season total of 40-19.

After Pace, the Powell brothers hope to continue to make their mark in the basketball world. For now, they will play again side-by-side in Sunday's Northeast-10 Conference Quarterfinal game at Saint Anselm at 1 p.m. (Live Stats | Video)


 

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Growing up together side-by-side, Bryan's and Brandon's main goal is to make their family proud with the skills and knowledge that they have playing basketball. Bryan and Brandon would spend their days working out together, playing at their local town park, on the street in front of their home, or during camp, whether it was in separate teams or one-on-one. The Powell brothers continue to push each other to be the best versions of themselves in both their professional and personal lives. They remained on the same team together until their freshman year of high school when Brandon was then moved up to the varsity team while Bryan stayed on the junior varsity team. After graduating high school, Brandon continued his passion for basketball and at Fairleigh Dickinson University where he played Division 1 basketball. After being away from his twin brother for so long, in his junior year of college, Brandon then transferred to play for Pace.
 

"It was always fun playing against Bryan because I knew what he could do and watching him use his skills with other people on the court was always exciting to learn from."

– Brandon Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush / FDU)
 

Many can agree that when you are with someone for a series of time, you start to know what they prefer and learn many different sides of that person. Although siblings tend to fight a lot and feelings are different from each other, it became beneficial for the Powell brothers. It is a blessing to have someone by your side who you can learn from and engage with to solve all types of problems together. Many of their skills playing basketball were taught and translated through the advantage of playing with and against each other.

Bryan and Brandon pushed each other far more than anyone else to become a better version of themselves in the way they play basketball on the court and in their personal lives. Living their entire lives side by side, they played on almost every single team together. The value of trust plays a huge role when they play together on the court. With the amount of experience that they have had playing together, both Bryan and Brandon understand each other's game and the way they play and move on the court.  

Bryan encouraged Brandon to come play with him at Pace with goals of winning a championship together. Last season, the Setters earned the NE10 Southwest Division regular-season crown and earned a trip to the NCAA tournament.

In their time playing together on this team, making all-conference together in 2022 was one of their most special moments. Throughout the many times the Powell brothers have played together, many memories were made, and it will forever be in their hearts and minds.

As their time playing together is nearing its end with the Setters two games into the conference playoffs and NCAAs on the horizon, Brandon's favorite memory playing basketball with Bryan and Pace was the comeback win over Adelphi University on Jan. 4, which resulting in an 82-79 win in overtime. Easily one of Bryan's favorite memories playing with his brother was winning last year's regular season championship. Being able to share the court together in their senior is something that they will forever cherish and be grateful for, while doing so to make their family, friends, and loved ones proud as well.

 
"I'm extremely proud of Brandon. I feel like one of Brandon's greatest strengths is that he hates losing more than anyone else. He knows me as well as I know him."

 – Bryan Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Canterbury School)

 
Hearing the Goldstein Fitness Center crowd filled with family, friends, and loved ones cheering for Bryan and Brandon Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush / FDU) is something that feels straight out of a movie.

With every basket they make -- Brandon's strumming of the guitar or Bryan's slam dunk reverberating off the rims -- the crowd goes wild over the Pace University Setters' favorite twins. The support that the Powell brothers constantly receive, means everything to them because it reassures them that they are doing this for a reason. Looking to prove individuals wrong, Bryan and Brandon Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush / FDU) are the brothers to look out for. They will continue to strive for their team and work harder to become some of the best in the game.