NEW CASTLE, DE (November 18, 2010) – Senior guard Julius Gray (Lincoln University, PA/Oxford Area) scored a career-high 25 points during the Kutztown University men's basketball team's 62-59 setback to Wilmington University Thursday evening at the Pratt Student Center in a non-conference contest. (BOXSCORE)
Gray was 8-for-15 from the field and 5-of-6 from the 3-point distance for the Golden Bears (1-1 overall). Gray's previous best scoring output was 24 points achieved twice last season against Edinboro, and Mansfield in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) quarterfinal contest. Gray was also a perfect 4-for-4 from the foul line.
Senior guard Steve Coffey (Reading, PA/Wilson) also reached double digits for Kutztown finishing with 14 points. He had a solid all-around contest as he led the Golden Bears with eight rebounds and five assists. Junior forward Jermaine Jackson (Blandon, PA/Reading) collected eight points and seven rebounds.
Unfortunately for KU, all those performances, including a defensive effort that forced 27 turnovers, weren't enough to continue its 19-game non-conference winning streak.
Kutztown and Wilmington (2-1) combined for six lead changes and six ties. The Wildcats placed three players in double figures highlighted by Robert Owens' double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds).
The Golden Bears went down battling. Trailing, 60-59, Kutztown had four chances to take the lead in the final 30 seconds, but the ball refused to drop in the basket for KU. A final desperation 3-pointer that would've forced overtime fell short.
Wilmington took the lead for good, 51-49, on a pair of Isiah Mason foul shots with 4 minutes, 9 seconds remaining. The Wildcats eventually stretched their advantage to 58-52 with 2:19 remaining before surviving the Golden Bears' final charge.
The Golden Bears appeared to have taken control when they zoomed to a 47-35 lead with 10 minutes, 54 seconds remaining following Eric Henry (Harrisburg, PA/Harrisburg)'s layup. That basket was the zenith of a 24-12 blitz to begin the second half. The Wildcats responded by scoring 11 straight points and holding the Golden Bears scoreless for nearly five minutes.
Kutztown finishes its season-opening three-game road trip when it makes the quick trip across Route 222 to face Penn State-Berks in a game starting at 3 p.m. The Golden Bears play their home opener Tuesday night against Goldey-Beacom College starting at 8 p.m.
--KU--
