BLOOMSBURG (January 30, 2010) – Stephen Dennis (West Chester, PA/Henderson) scored 24 points but it was not enough as the seventh-ranked Kutztown University men's basketball team dropped a 70-58 decision to Bloomsburg University Saturday afternoon in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division game at Nelson Fieldhouse. (BOXSCORE)
Dennis became the all-time KU men's basketball leader in foul shots made with 16 minutes, 17 seconds remaining in the first half. With 525 career free-throws, Dennis surpassed Dave Ben for the all-time lead in that category. The senior guard and Division II national player of the year candidate raised his career point total to 2,078, which is seventh on the all-time PSAC scoring list.
Tamir Johnson (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) scored nine points and Ryan Washington (Philadelphia, PA/Wissahickon) grabbed 10 rebounds for the Golden Bears (16-2 overall, 4-2 PSAC East). Ivory Wells (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) had seven points for Kutztown. The defeat dropped Kutztown into a three-way tie for second place with Mansfield and Cheyney. East Stroudsburg defeated West Chester to take over sole possession of first place.
Bloomsburg (8-10, 2-4) had four players reach double figures highlighted by 20 points from Trevon Johnson. Adon El added 13 points off the bench for the Huskies, who led for much of the game. The difference in the contest was bench scoring and second-chance points. The Huskies won both areas, outscoring KU's bench, 25-13 and generating a 23-9 advantage on second-chance baskets.
Kutztown, which entered the game leading the nation in field goal percentage, made just 39.7 percent of its baskets (21-for-57). The Golden Bears' largest advantage of the game was 19-14 with five minutes, 10 seconds remaining in the first half. The Huskies finished the first half by scoring 13 of the next 18 points to take a 27-24 lead into halftime.
Dennis and Johnson helped the Golden Bears roar out of the locker room at the start of the second half. The duo scored all of KU's points during a 11-4 burst that gave the Golden Bears a 35-31 lead with 16:07 remaining. Unfortunately, KU could shake Bloomsburg, which took the lead for good following a Johnson basket with 13:01 remaining.
The game featured eight lead changes and seven ties.
Kutztown returns to action when it travels to Holy Family University Monday evening in a game beginning at 7 p.m. That is a makeup game from Saturday, December 19.
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