KUTZTOWN, PA (February 22, 2010) – As the Kutztown University men's basketball team gathers for its penultimate regular season game at rival Cheyney University Wednesday night at 8 p.m., the dénouement of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division has yet to be determined.
Cheyney (15-10 overall, 8-4 PSAC East) is in a three-way tie for first place with Mansfield (17-8, 8-4) and East Stroudsburg (21-4, 8-4). All three teams are a game ahead of Kutztown (20-5, 7-5).
The Golden Bears have lost their last two games and all of a sudden, that object in the rear view mirror is a lot closer than it appeared last week. Red-hot Bloomsburg (12-12, 6-6) is very much alive for a playoff spot and one game behind Kutztown as the week begins. Nobody in the PSAC East has clinched a playoff spot yet.
However, the task for Kutztown, which currently sits in fourth place, is finding a way to win at hostile Cope Hall, a place that will be sauna-like hot and vibrating like a rock concert Wednesday night. Cope Hall's headache-o-meter will be set to triple-migraine levels for Kutztown's visit. Cheyney handed KU its worse defeat of the season and emphatically ended the Golden Bears' 25-game home court winning streak, 94-62, three weeks ago.
“I want my guys to understand that we got spanked,” Kutztown head coach Bernie Driscoll said. “Cheyney played harder than we did. That game did exist. We know we can't come up with that type of effort and expect to win. We can't let the game get away from us like it did the last time.”
Kutztown has won two consecutive games at Cheyney, including a wild 75-73 triumph last year. Both teams enter the game coming off of defeats. The Wolves dropped a 63-55 overtime decision to East Stroudsburg Saturday. Kutztown saw an eight-point halftime lead evaporate into an 87-83 defeat.
This game matches the PSAC's top two leading scorers in Kutztown senior guard and Division II national player of the year candidate Stephen Dennis (West Chester, PA/Henderson) and Cheyney's Sharif Bray. Dennis leads the nation and PSAC in scoring (27.0 ppg.). Bray is second in scoring (21.8 ppg.). In the first meeting, Bray scored 19 of his game-high 27 points in the first half to spark the Wolves. Cheyney made 32-of-60 shots in the first game (53.3 percent) and 9-of-17 (52.9) from 3-point distance.
Kutztown never found its rhythm against Cheyeny. Dennis scored 18 points as the Wolves harassed him with a double team as soon he got near half-court. The Golden Bears were 2-for-12 from 3-point distance. Following that defeat, Kutztown won three straight games before its recent two-game slide. Now, KU will look to turn the tables against the Wolves, who also knocked off IUP at home this season.
Dennis just became the Golden Bears' all-time leader in assists with 428. He now holds four school records: points, assists, field goals and made free-throws. With 2,265 career points, Dennis is third on the all-time PSAC scoring list. During his sterling career, Dennis has scored in double figures in 40 consecutive games and 101 times. He has scored 30 or more points eight times this season.
Ryan Washington (Philadelphia, PA/Wissahickon) and Julius gray carried much of the offensive load against Shippensburg. Washington, with 14 double-doubles this season, led the Golden Bears with 23 points. Gray made his first nine shots and finished with 21 points. He has averaged 18 points in Kutztown's last two games. Tamir Johnson (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter), who missed the first Cheyney game, is averaging 9.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.
In its defeat to East Stroudsburg, Cheyney had two chances to take the lead in the final seconds but not find the range. In the extra period Cheyney took their first lead of the contest on a pair of Bray free throws but ESU answered with eight straight points before the Wolves could get back on the scoreboard. Tamir Smith paced Cheyney with 15 points and Bray 14 points.
Kevin Presbery added 11 points and 11 rebounds. The Wolves are balanced highlighted by the scoring trio of Bray, Smith (14.3 ppg.) and Presberry (12.2). Cheyney is 4-4 at home this season.
“It's a huge game for us and Cheyney,” Driscoll said. “Cheyney is well-coached, and they have outstanding players. It's a heck of a challenge for us and got to come ready to play. We're fighting for our playoff lives. It should be a great atmosphere and a fun night.”
GOLD RUSH IS COMING!: Kutztown hosts Bloomsburg University for a basketball doubleheader on Saturday, February 27 and invites the community, alumni, students, staff and faculty to “Jam the Gym” – celebrating KU athletics and a successful season for Golden Bear men's and women's basketball squads. The goal is to fill every seat available in Keystone Hall, home to KU basketball.
Fans and friends are encouraged to wear their 'gold' apparel to the final basketball games of the season. At half-time of the men's game, a KU student will be randomly selected to shoot from half-court for a Gold Rush prize of $10,000.
The first-ever Gold Rush begins at noon with a Gold Rush rally for alumni, hosted by the Kutztown University Alumni Association in the Student Recreation Center. The Rush continues with the women's basketball game at 1 p.m. and the men's basketball game at 3 p.m. Tickets are just $5 and are available at the door on game day; KU students, staff and faculty are free.
--KU--
