KUTZTOWN, Pa. (January 18, 2011) – The Kutztown University men's basketball team survived the opening week of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division schedule by defeating Shippensburg and Bloomsburg by nine points each.

 

Now, the Golden Bears (9-5 overall, 2-0 PSAC East) will try to keep their conference roll going when they invade cozy Hollinger Field House to battle West Chester University (10-4, 1-1). The game starts at 8 p.m.

 

Already with a one-game lead over West Chester, Kutztown has an opportunity to create some early separation in the standings. The Golden Rams stumbled in their last outing at home against East Stroudsburg, 82-69. East Stroudsburg (9-5, 2-0) will also look to keep pace with Kutztown when it visits Mansfield (9-5, 1-1).

 

Kutztown is playing three of its next four games on the road. Anybody who has followed this conference over the years knows playing on the road is like trying to do the electric slide on hot coals. This task is interesting because the Golden Rams are 9-1 at home this season.

 

Last season, West Chester and Kutztown split a pair of matchups with each team holding serve in its gym. The Golden Bears dropped a 75-68 decision to West Chester at Hollinger Field House on Feb. 17, 2010.

 

KU has won three of its last four games behind the leadership and veteran savvy of seniors Tamir Johnson (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) and Julius Gray (Lincoln University, PA/Oxford Area). Each player has averaged over 18 points during the Golden Bears' recent run of strong play. Johnson is scoring at an 18.3 point per game clip and Gray is chipping in 18 per game.

 

However, Gray and Johnson have been far from a two-man show. The Golden Bears have displayed plenty of balance in their two PSAC East victories thus far. Against Shippensburg, Kutztown had six players reach double figures. Four players hit for double digits against Bloomsburg including Jermaine Jackson (Blandon, PA/Reading), who sparkled off the bench with a career-high 14 points.

 

Gray did supply the early fuel in the win over Bloomsburg. He finished with a career-high 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting. He has scored 20 or more points 10 times over the last two years for the Golden Bears. Gray scored 25 points each in road games against California and Wilmington.

 

Meanwhile, West Chester dropped a rare home game to PSAC East preseason favorite East Stroudsburg despite the efforts of Shannon Givens (22 points) and Carl Johnson (13). The Golden Rams opened their PSAC East schedule by winning at Mansfield, 86-74 last Wednesday. Five WCU players reached double digits in that contest.

 

West Chester has six players averaging between 7.7 and 12 points per game. Givens (12.6) and Lance McDowell (11.7) are the only Golden Rams to average double digits. Khalief Foster adds 9.9 points per outing. McDowell also leads WCU in rebounding (6.4) and blocked shots (12). West Chester has also topped the 100-point mark twice this season.

 

Both teams continue conference play Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. Kutztown hosts East Stroudsburg and West Chester visits Millersville in a PSAC playoff rematch. Fans can hear the Kutztown-East Stroudsburg contest on WEEU (830-AM) beginning at 2:45 p.m.

 

--KU--