KUTZTOWN, PA (February 27, 2010) – The Kutztown University men's basketball team defeated Bloomsburg University, 75-68, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division game Saturday afternoon at Keystone Arena. With the win, the Golden Bears clinched a spot in the PSAC playoffs for the eighth consecutive season and a trip to Mansfield University Tuesday night for a first round game. (BOXSCORE)
Senior guard and Division II player of the year candidate Stephen Dennis (West Chester, PA/Henderson) scored 24 points to lead Kutztown (21-6 overall, 8-6 PSAC East). Dennis upped his career scoring total to 2,321. He also broke the record he established last year for points in a single season. Dennis set the mark last with 710 points. This season, Dennis has scored 732 points. Dennis had plenty of help as three other Golden Bears reached double digits.
Ryan Washington (Philadelphia, PA/Wissahickon) and Julius Gray (Lincoln University, PA/Oxford Area High School) finished with 13 points each for Kutztown. Tamir Johnson (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) finished with 11 points as eight of the nine Golden Bears who played scored at least two points. Washington also grabbed 10 rebounds to post his 15th double-double of the season. Gray scored six of his 13 points in the final 64 seconds to help Kutztown hold off a late Bloomsburg rally.
Bloomsburg (12-14, 6-8) also placed four players in double figures highlighted by 14 points each from Trevon Johnson and Adon El. Larry Webster scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Huskies. Jesse Batar finished with 11 points for Bloomsburg.
Kutztown led 43-29 with 17:10 remaining. However, the Huskies closed to within two points twice in the final two minutes, the final time at 67-65 with 1:16 remaining following an Adon El foul shot. That would be as close as Bloomsburg would get as Gray took control. Gray sank a short floater in the lane with 64 seconds remaining to give KU a 69-65 lead.
Washington blocked a shot on Bloomsburg's next possession and Gray snatched the rebound. The Golden Bears made six straight foul shots to close out the victory and continue their season.
Kutztown and Mansfield split a pair of meetings this season. Mansfield won 94-87 at Decker Gym on Jan. 20 and Kutztown earned revenge by claiming an 81-69 at Keystone Arena on Feb. 11. The KU-Mansfield game will begin at 7 p.m.
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