WEST CHESTER, Pa. (January 19, 2011)—Steve Coffey (Reading, PA/Wilson)'s career-high 17 points led the Kutztown University's men basketball team to 73-62 victory over West Chester University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division contest Wednesday evening at Hollinger FieldHouse. (BOXSCORE)

The Golden Bears improved to 10-5 overall and 3-0 in the PSAC East. KU is in first place in the PSAC East standings and is the only team in the East who is undefeated.

Also finishing with double digits in scoring were Julius Gray (Lincoln University, PA/Oxford Area) (15 points) and Nate Edwards (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic) (14). This was Edward's fifth time scoring in double figures and Gray's 10th time this season. Gray made a career-high 11 free throws on a career best 13 attempts. Eric Brennan (Chester, PA/West Catholic) and Tamir Johnson (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) finished with nine points each. Brennan led KU in rebounds with eight, and Johnson finished with seven.

Kutztown controlled the second half as it led the entire time, but the Golden Rams kept KU close in reach. With just under five minutes remaining, WCU's Shannon Givens shaved the Golden Ram deficit to 63-56 with a pair of foul shots. Coffey answered by sinking a deep 3-pointer from in front of the Golden Bear bench with four minutes, 36 seconds remaining, giving KU a 66-56 advantage.

West Chester tried to make a comeback in the final four minutes, but KU's defense was solid. Kutztown utilized the free throw line to score its final seven points.

“We played good hard KU basketball and I thought we defended really well tonight,” Kutztown head coach Bernie Driscoll said. “Steve hit a huge shot for us late in the game. That was a big momentum swing in the game. I thought Steve stepped up for us. On that play we ran a secondary break, swung the ball around the perimeter and he made a big shot.”

This was Coffey's sixth time this season scoring in double digits. Against West Chester, he shot 5-for-6 from the field, 3-for-4 from the 3-point range, and was perfect from the foul line, making all four of his attempts.

"Coach Hicks told me to shoot the ball, don't think about it and let it flow,” Coffey said. “We played good defense and our goal was to keep Shannon out the lane and close out on their shooters. Plus we didn't give up too many offensive rebounds."

In the first half, the Golden Rams led for the majority of the time until KU capitalized on a 3-pointer from Nate Edwards (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic) to tie the game 28-28, with one minute, 56 seconds remaining. The Golden Bears pulled away with another 3-pointer from Coffey and three foul shots from Gray to put KU in the lead, 34-30 at intermission.

“This is a good win for us,” Coffey said. “For us to win at Shippensburg and West Chester, two places we normally struggle, gives us a lot of confidence heading into our game Saturday against East Stroudsburg.”

The Golden Bears will host ESU Saturday, Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. in PSAC East match up at Keystone Arena.