KUTZTOWN, PA. (January 19, 2010) – Sole possession of first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division will be at stake when second-ranked Kutztown visits Decker Gym to face red-hot Mansfield University Wednesday night beginning at 7:30 p.m. 

Fans who can't attend the game will be able to listen every second of the game by CLICKING HERE

Both Kutztown (14-0 overall, 2-0 PSAC East) and Mansfield (11-4, 2-0) are the only remaining PSAC East teams without a league defeat. The Golden Bears will definitely have their hands full against Mansfield, winners of seven of its last eight games, in what promises to be a raucous atmosphere. Mansfield fans have been urged to wear black as the Mountaineers try to “Blackout Kutztown.”

This will be the first meeting between the two teams since Kutztown's 97-86 victory in the PSAC quarterfinal round last season. The Golden Bears claimed an 84-79 victory last year at Decker Gym in a tightly-contested game. Expect more of the same when the teams clash Wednesday.

“It'll be a challenge for us,” Kutztown coach Bernie Driscoll said. “Our conference is tough and every night we have to be ready to play. Mansfield is a solid team.”

Kutztown is one of five remaining unbeaten schools in Division II. The Golden Bears have also won 15 consecutive PSAC East contests. However, none of that matter will matter when the teams gather for the opening tip. The Golden Bears will be tasked with trying to slow a very balanced Mansfield squad coming off of an impressive, 81-72, victory over Cheyney.

Yuseff Carr is the ninth leading scorer in the PSAC East, averaging a team-high 16.1 points per outing. Tony Fannick (14.1), Ryan Callahan (13.9) and Chris Pender (11.1) also average double figures for the Mountaineers. Pender scored 19 points against Cheyney Saturday afternoon. The Mountaineers have made 112 3-pointers as a team and have three players who have made 20 or more. Mansfield is 6-2 overall at home this season.

The Golden Bears will counter with senior guard and Division II national player of the year candidate Stephen Dennis, junior center Ryan Washington and junior guard Julius Gray.

Dennis leads the PSAC in scoring (26.5) and is second in assists (5.4). Dennis enters the game with 1,960 career points. He was named PSAC East Player of the Week for the second straight week and third time this season after averaging 38.5 points in two games last week.

Washington is third in the PSAC in scoring (21.0), first in blocked shots (2.7) and first in field goal percentage (64.4). Dennis and Washington are the highest scoring Division II scoring combination, combining for 47.5 points per game. Meanwhile, Gray is chipping in 15 points per game.

Junior forward Tamir Johnson has been a silent force over Kutztown's last four games. He grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds in a victory over Millersville Saturday night.

Kutztown returns home Saturday afternoon when it hosts Shippensburg University beginning at 3 p.m.