Quickly turning a two-point deficit into a double-digit lead, the Brunswick School basketball team kept its undefeated FAA record intact on Wednesday, thanks to a second half which showcased the squad’s strengths in a big way.

Raising its defensive intensity, causing turnovers and getting out on the fastbreak, the Bruins turned up their overall play in the second half and turned back visiting FAA foe Hopkins School.

Senior 6-foot-7 forward Wyatt Triestman scored a game-high 21 points to power Brunswick past Hopkins, 58-40, at Dann Gymnasium. The win upped Brunswick’s FAA record to a perfect 6-0 and improved its overall mark to 13-5. Hopkins (3-5 record in the FAA) brought a two-point lead into halftime, then Brunswick found its form in the second half.

“In the first half we started off a little slow,” said Triestman, who scored 14 second-half points. “In the second half, we wanted to use our athleticism and get out in transition. We punished them in the second half.”

“We came out a little slow in the first half and Hopkins played and executed very well in the half court and we were a little sluggish,” Brunswick coach Steve Juricek said. “When we give effort, we can defend well against anybody and we were glad to get it in the second half.”

Senior Jon Sigurdsson, a 6-10 senior center, totaled nine points and was an imposing presence in the paint for the Bruins, who scored 39 points in the second half, after scoring 19 in the first half.

Sigurdsson is pleased with where the team stands at this point of the season and how they are competing on a consistent basis.

“We are locked in mentally and physically,” Sigurdsson said. “This is the last stretch of the season. It’s time for us to focus on our goal, which is the FAA championship. When we’re rolling, we feel teams can’t hang with us with our size and our skill.”

Sophomore guard Ethan Long scored seven points, five of which came during the second half, while senior backcourt mate Malik Samms added five points in the winning effort.

Freshman point guard Jack Stevens, junior 6-8 center Matty Augustine and junior forward Lee Huffard posted two points apiece for the Bruins, who have three FAA games remaining.

Brunswick visits FAA rival Hamden Hall Country Day School tomorrow, hosts St. Luke’s on Monday, then takes a short trip to Greenwich Country Day School on Wednesday. Greenwich Country Day also sports a record of 6-0.

“The biggest thing for us going forward is playing with good energy the entire game,” Triestman said. “We have to continue working as hard as we can and be sharp in practice so we can execute every day, no matter who our opponent is.”

Rebounding and generating points in the low post have been assets of Brunswick, behind Sigurdsson and Augustine, who form a formidable rotation at center.

“Our big men are doing well,” Juricek said. “They have soft hands and can finish at the rim. They protect the rim very well too.”

Said Sigurdsson: “This year is a year where we can play a lot of guys. We have a lot of different lineups we can throw at teams. We usually hold teams to low scoring games, with our size and our defense is tough.”