EAST STROUDSBURG, PA (March 6, 2010) – The Kutztown University men's basketball team dropped an 84-73 decision to Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the championship game of the 50th Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) tournament Saturday night at East Stroudsburg's Koehler Fieldhouse. (BOXSCORE)
Julius Gray (Lincoln University, PA/Oxford Area High School) and Stephen Dennis (West Chester, PA/Henderson) finished with 22 points each to lead the Golden Bears (23-7 overall). Ryan Washington (Philadelphia, PA/Wissahickon) and Tamir Johnson (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) each recorded double-doubles for Kutztown, but it wasn't enough to prevent IUP from winning its sixth PSAC championship.
Washington posted his 18th double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Johnson collected a game-high 15 rebounds to along with 10 points. Dennis, who also dished five assists for the 14th time this season, raised his career scoring total to 2,386.
While IUP (28-2) secured the PSAC's automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Division II tournament with the victory, Kutztown must hope for an at-large bid for the second straight year. The NCAA selections will be announced at 9:30 p.m. Sunday night.
The Crimson Hawks placed five players in double figures led by PSAC tournament MVP Thomas Young, who scored 18 of his game-high 25 points in the second half. Willi Estrella added 22 points and 10 rebounds for IUP, which ended a four-game losing streak to Kutztown. Also reaching double digits for IUP was Darryl Webb (12 points), Julian Sanders (10) and Ashton Smith (10).
The difference in the game was IUP made seven of its nine 3-pointers after intermission, including four on six possessions to open a 51-43 lead with 14:49 remaining and shot 55.6 percent (15-for-27). Kutztown overcame IUP's long-range marksmanship and matched the Crimson Hawks' efficiency in most areas except the foul line. The Golden Bears were 4-for-14 from the charity stripe in the second half. Included in those misses were the front ends of a pair of one-and-ones with the Golden Bears trailing by either one or two points.
“In order to beat teams in the postseason, you have to make foul shots and unfortunately we didn't do that tonight,” Kutztown coach Bernie Driscoll said. “I am proud of how hard we played and how my guys didn't give up.”
Kutztown fought hard and showed its trademark poise every time IUP threatened to pull away.
The Golden Bears battled back from a pair of eight-point deficits in each half to forge a 56-56 tie into the third media timeout of the second half. Washington tied the game, 56-56 on a driving layup off of a nice pass from Jon DeShields (Chester, PA/Life Center) with 8:25 remaining.
However, Smith gave the Crimson Hawks the lead for good when he made a 3-pointer from the corner left corner in front of the bench. Again, Washington answered with a basket to pull Kutztown to within, 59-58 with 6:42 remaining. Unfortunately, the Golden Bears would get no closer as IUP used a 9-1 run to open a 68-59 lead with 3:59 remaining.
Kutztown refused to go down without a fight. DeShields' only basket of the game cut IUP's lead to 71-67 with 2:41 remaining. The Crimson Hawks responded with a 10-1 burst.
Gray's first half accuracy enabled the Golden Bears to overcome a 22-14 deficit. Gray sank a 3-pointer with two seconds remaining in the first half to give Kutztown a 35-33 halftime lead. He scored KU's last six points of the first half. Gray was 4-of-6 from 3-point distance in the opening 20 minutes. During the first half, Kutztown held the lead four times and its largest advantage was two points (9-7 & 35-33). Ironically, in both instances, a Gray 3-pointer gave KU the lead.
The Golden Bears struggled out of the gate missing their first four shots and committing three turnovers before Gray's jumper with 16:53 remaining got KU on the board. IUP scored the first seven points of the contest before Kutztown scored the next nine to take its first lead of the game, 9-7.
While the defeat is disappointing, Kutztown developed a steely resolve in advancing to the PSAC title game. The Golden Beards showed the heart of a champion and thrived in the face of adversity.
--KU--
