KUTZTOWN, PA (March 7, 2010) – The Kutztown University men's basketball team has been selected to participate in the 2010 NCAA Division II tournament for the second consecutive season. The Golden Bears were awarded the No. 6 seed and will open against third-seeded Saint Augustine's College Saturday night at West Liberty State (W.Va.) University in Wheeling. Tip-off will be 5:00 p.m.

The Golden Bears (23-7 overall) had another strong season highlighted by being nationally ranked for 13 weeks and advancing to the PSAC title game for the second year in a row. Kutztown won its first 14 games of the year and was ranked No. 2 on Jan. 19, the highest in school history. Kutztown, which posted back-to-back 20-win seasons, enters the NCAA tournament having won three of its last four games.

“We are extremely excited to have earned a bid to the NCAA Division II tournament for the second straight year,” Kutztown coach Bernie Driscoll said. “We worked hard as a basketball staff this season and overcame a couple of obstacles in February to earn a chance to compete in the NCAA tournament. I am extremely proud of the guys. This is great for our University, our athletic department and our basketball program.”

Saint Augustine's (26-4), located in Raleigh, NC, earned an automatic bid as champions of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The Falcons are making their fourth NCAA tournament appearance overall. They played in the NCAA Division II tournament in 1983, 1984 and 1997.The 26 wins are a modern school record for season victories. The Falcons also won 20 games for the first time since 1996-97.

This will be the first meeting between Kutztown and Saint Augustine's. The first two rounds of the Atlantic Region will be played at different sites. Top-seed Indiana, Pa and West Liberty State will serve as the first round hosts.

Kutztown is hoping to duplicate or better its run from 2009 through this year's NCAA tournament. Last year, as a No. 3 seed, the Golden Bears beat West Virginia State, 99-88, in the first round and IUP, 92-86, in the second round before losing to top-seeded Gannon, 84-73, in the Sweet 16.

The Golden Bears have been led this season by senior guard and Division II national player of the year candidate Stephen Dennis (West Chester, PA/Henderson) (West Chester/Henderson), who leads the nation in scoring (26.6 points per game). He is also third in the PSAC in assists (4.5) and fourth in steals (2.1). With 2,386 career points, Dennis is third on the all-time PSAC scoring list. He has scored 30 or more points 10 times this season. Dennis has been selected as the PSAC East player of the week five times.

Junior center Ryan Washington (Philadelphia, PA/Wissahickon) (Philadelphia/Wissahickon) has posted 17 double-doubles this season. He is among the top of the conference in several categories. Washington is third in scoring (17.9), rebounding (10.0), field goal percentage (60.2) and second in blocked shots (2.2). Washington has scored 1,172 career points.

Junior guard Julius Gray (Lincoln University, PA/Oxford Area High School) (Lincoln University/Oxford) was magnificent during Kutztown's run through the PSAC playoffs. Gray, the Golden Bears' third leading scorer at 13.8 points per game, scored 22 or more points in playoff contests against Mansfield, Clarion and IUP. He has scored at least 20 points in four of KU's last six games. Gray made a career-high six 3-pointers in the setback to IUP in the PSAC title game.

Junior forward Tamir Johnson (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) (Philadelphia/Imhotep Charter) leads the PSAC in field goal percentage (64.3) and he is seventh in rebounding (8.3). Johnson has posted six double-doubles this season, including a 10-rebound and 15-point performance against IUP in the PSAC title game Saturday night. Johnson has scored in double figures 14 times this season.

The other Atlantic Region pairings are No. 8 Fairmont State (22-7) vs. No. 1 IUP (28-2), No. 4 West Virginia State (28-3) vs. No. 5 East Stroudsburg (24-5) and No. 7 Alderson-Broaddus (24-6) vs. No. 2 West Liberty State (27-2). The Saint Augustine's-Kutztown winner will meet the Alderson-Broaddus/West Liberty State winner Sunday March 14. The Atlantic Region final will be played on Tuesday March 16.

The Elite Eight will be played at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 24, 25 and 27.

--KU--