KUTZTOWN, PA. (December 29, 2009) – Senior guard Stephen Dennis and junior center Ryan Washington combined to score 55 points to lead the seventh-ranked Kutztown University men's basketball team to an 88-76 victory over Lincoln (Pa.) University at Keystone Arena Tuesday night.
Entering Tuesday's non-conference game, Dennis and Washington averaged 45.2 points per game, making them Division II's highest scoring tandem. While they have resembled a Division II version of Batman-and-Robin during the early part of the season, they needed some assistance to raise their early season record to 7-0.
In addition, Kutztown won its 20th consecutive home game and 12th straight December contest.
Washington, the reigning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division player of the week, exploded for his third consecutive double-double with a season-high 28 points and 11 rebounds. Washington also finished with five blocked shots, five assists and four steals in 36 entertaining minutes. His running mate, Dennis, a Division II National Player of the Year candidate and the nation's second leading scorer, added 27 points, eight assists and six steals.
However, despite those gaudy numbers, a closer forensic analysis reveals that freshman guard Ivory Wells, junior forward Tamir Johnson and freshman guard Lance Chisholm made significant contributions and fueled a 13-0 Kutztown blitz early in the second half that turned the game in the Golden Bears' favor for good.
Trailing, 44-40, five minutes into the second half, Wells and Chisholm combined for eight of the Golden Bears' 13 points during the game-altering burst. Washington began the run with a foul shot and Chisholm finished the spurt with a jumper from the wing that helped KU open a 53-44 lead with 12:03 remaining.
Wells scored all eight of his career-high points in the second half. Johnson corralled a game-high and career-best 14 rebounds. Johnson cleaned the glass like Windex gobbling loose rebounds like cherished golden nuggets. Meanwhile, Chishom provided quality minutes that helped ease the burden of Dennis' four fouls. Kutztown overcame foul trouble and a difficult first half shooting effort.
It all added up to a solid victory against a Lincoln squad featuring some quicksilver guards. The Golden Bear defense was up to the challenge forcing 22 turnovers. However, despite building a pair of 10-point first half leads, Lincoln continued to harass the Golden Bears like angry bill collectors eventually taking a brief lead before being subdued.
The visiting Lions (1-6) placed three players in double figures highlighted by Darrell Mosley's 22 points. Darren Clark, Lincoln's leading scorer, posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Denzel Mooney finished with 18 points. Eugene Smith grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds for the Lions. Overall, Mosley and Mooney combined to make seven of Lincoln's nine 3-pointers.
Mosley drained consecutive 3-pointers in a 42-second span of the second half that helped the Lions close to within, 58-55, with 7:05 remaining. Lincoln would get no closer thanks to Dennis and Washington.
Dennis scored 13 points in the final seven minutes as Kutztown extended its all-time lead in the series against Lincoln to 5-1. This was the first meeting between the two teams since 1990.
Junior guard Julius Gray scored 11 points and made a huge 3-pointer from the corner that ended a late 7-0 KU run. Gray's 3-pointer swelled Kutztown's advantage to 71-59 with 4:37 remaining. The Kutztown bulge never dropped below double digits. Washington finished the victory off with a thunderous dunk in the final 90 seconds.
For the Golden Bears those timely efforts from everybody will be crucial as Kutztown begins defense of its PSAC East Division title. Kutztown never trailed during the entire first half. Washington's 16 points in the opening 20 minutes helped the Golden Bears open a 37-31 intermission advantage.
Now the fun begins for the Golden Bears. They return to action Saturday afternoon when they welcome Gannon University to Keystone Arena for a 3 p.m. showdown in a PSAC crossover contest. This will be Gannon's second trip in history to Kutztown. The Golden Bears made three trips to Gannon during the 2008-09 season. Lincoln visits Shaw University Saturday night in its next contest.
NOTES: This was the final Kutztown men's basketball game of the decade. The Golden Bears made a 3-pointer in all 256 games this decade. Kutztown coach Bernie Driscoll won his 149th career contest. Dennis has now scored 1,767 career points.
--KU--
