KUTZTOWN, PA (January 8, 2010) – The Kutztown University men's basketball team has been an electrician's dream through the first 10 games of the 2009-10 season because they have shot lights out.
The Golden Bears are fourth in the nation in field goal shooting percentage (52.1), have three starters shooting 50 percent or better and have made more than half of their shots in eight games this year. That reason among many are why Kutztown (10-0 overall) is off to its best start in more than 90 years and ranked sixth in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches/Division II Top 25 poll.
However, returning back to campus with the zero still on the right side of the win-loss hyphen will be tough as the Golden Bears embark on an arduous weekend journey to Edinboro (6-5) on Saturday, January 9 and Lock Haven (3-6) Sunday, January 10 for a pair of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover games this weekend. Both games begin at 3 p.m. and can be heard on the Golden Bear Radio Network (www.kubears.com).
Kutztown is 2-13 all-time against Edinboro and it has never won at cozy McCombs' Fieldhouse, site of Saturday's showdown. The Golden Bears have fared much better against Lock Haven, winning eight straight games against the Eagles. Kutztown is 11-7 overall against LHU.
While the weather is expected to be glacial outside with high temperatures only reaching the teens and plenty of snow, Kutztown will try to use their sterling shooting to warm-up the gym and earn a pair of victories this weekend.
Junior center Ryan Washington has been Kutztown's shooting leader, making 67.2 percent of his shots. Washington is the reigning two-time PSAC East Player of the Week. Junior forward Tamir Johnson is making 65.5 percent of his shots after an 8-for-8 effort in Tuesday's victory over Goldey-Beacom College.
Senior guard and Division II National Player of the year candidate Stephen Dennis is shooting at a 52.1 percent clip. Dennis and Washington are the top two scorers in the PSAC and the only set of teammates ranked among the Division II national scoring leaders. Dennis leads the conference and is fifth nationally with a 23.9 scoring average. Washington is second in the PSAC and ninth nationally with a 22.5 scoring average. Together, they are highest scoring duo in Division II.
Junior guard Julius Gray is averaging 15.1 points per contest and he leads the Golden Bears with 32 3-pointers. Against Goldey-Beacom, Kutztown overcame its first halftime deficit of the season to claim a victory. Dennis provided the winning points when he sank a jumper from the top of the key with 1.8 seconds remaining.
Edinboro has a two-game losing streak after falling, 99-84 at Urbana on Wednesday night. The 99 points scored by Urbana marks the most points allowed by Edinboro since the final game of the 2005-06 season, when West Virginia State defeated the Fighting Scots 103-89 in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs.
Al Muteba led four players in double figures as he recorded his second double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. The 19 are a season-high for the junior guard. Muteba made 6 of 11 field goals and was 6 of 7 at the line while playing 19 minutes. Chris Bess came off the bench to score 12 points, while freshman point guard Chris Klimchock also scored 12 points on the strength of 4 of 7 three-pointers. Cory Somerville had 11 points.
Lock Haven is also looking to get back on track after losing a pair of road games last week to Bloomsburg and Mansfield. The Eagles are led by Erin Brennan's 18.2 point per game average. Brennan has led LHU in scoring in five of his team's last six games. Warren Christian (13.7) and Delexis Pena (12.8) also average double figures for Lock Haven. Christian averages a team-best 9.6 rebounds.
Kutztown comes off the road to begin defense of its PSAC East crown against unbeaten East Stroudsburg University Wednesday night at Keystone Arena. The Warriors (11-0), off to their best start since 1942-43, also face Lock Haven and Edinboro this weekend.
--KU--
