LOCK HAVEN, PA. (January 10, 2010) – Julius Gray made four foul shots in the final 30 seconds to help the sixth-ranked Kutztown University men's basketball team hold off a furious Lock Haven University rally, 71-66, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover contest at Thomas Fieldhouse Sunday afternoon. Box score
Senior guard and Division II National Player of the Year candidate Stephen Dennis scored a game-high 26 points to help Kutztown (12-0) continue its best start to a season in more than 90 years. Junior forward Ryan Washington finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds. This was the seventh time this season, the nation's highest scoring duo have scored 20 points in the same game.
Gray added 17 points for Kutztown, which survived after LHU overcame a 19-point second half deficit.
Lock Haven (3-8) had four players reach double figures with Warren Christian's 20 leading the way. Eric Brennan chipped in with 15 points and Andres Carpio added 14 points off the bench.
Dalexis Pena scored 11 points for LHU, which was aided by 20-for-24 shooting from the foul line after intermission
The Golden Bears played the final 90 seconds with Dennis, who fouled out with Kutztown clinging to a 65-64 advantage. Lock Haven had the ball with a chance to take the lead but Tamir Johnson drew a charge that gave the ball back to the Golden Bears. On KU's ensuing possession, Washington made a high-arching jumper along the baseline while surrounded by three players with 57 seconds remaining to extend to a 67-64 edge
After the Bald Eagles closed to within one point, Gray calmly stepped to the foul line and sank a pair of shots with 29.7 remaining and added another pair of freebies seconds later to help Kutztown remain perfect
Once Carpio tied the game, 48-48, with 11 minutes, 35 seconds remaining, the Bald Eagles and Golden Bears combined for six lead changes and three ties. Dennis started the second half with a pair of easy baskets to swell Kutztown's 38-23 halftime lead to 42-23 with 19 minutes remaining. The Bald Eagles climbed back into the game and eventually took a 54-50 lead with 9:22 left after another Carpio 3-pointer.
Kutztown, which had scored 10 straight points early in the game to seize control, turned to Washington, who scored four straight points to tie the game. From there Kutztown was unable to shake Lock Haven until the final buzzer.
The Golden Bears made 53.8 percent of their shots (28-for-52). It was the ninth time in 12 games that Kutztown made 50 percent or better of its shots.
Kutztown returns to action Wednesday night when it hosts unbeaten East Stroudsburg University at Keystone Arena beginning at 8 p.m. The game can be heard live on the Golden Bear Radio Network at www.kubears.com.
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