Box Score



KUTZTOWN, Pa. (November 19, 2011) – Anything that may have come into question after its loss earlier this week was immediately erased Saturday night.  The Kutztown University men's basketball team finished with five players in double-figures in its 96-75 win over Clarion University at Keystone Arena.  (BOXSCORE)
 
Kutztown (2-1 overall, 1-0 PSAC East) opened its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) schedule Saturday night and didn't disappointment the hometown crowd.
 
Devon McBride (Richmond, VA/Hill School) led KU with 28 points on 9-for-20 shooting from the field.  He had a game-high five 3-pointers and went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line.  The senior is leading KU with a career-high 21.0 points per game and has proven to be a major asset in KU's high-paced, high scoring attack.
 
“We came out right from the beginning tonight and I thought we played hard,” head men's basketball coach Bernie Driscoll said.  “We controlled the tempo of the game and got it to a high-paced game we like. We shot the ball very well and I was very pleased with our intensity tonight.”
 
Eric Brennan (Chester, PA/West Catholic) was as efficient as could be in KU's opening conference victory.  He was 8-of-11 from the floor and scored 16 points.  In doing so, the senior forward achieved the 1,000-point mark for his career.  He also had a team-high seven rebounds and finished with five assists and two steals.
 
Brennan came to KU last season and has started in all but one game.  He brings the Golden Bears a solid 'back to the basket' game and the ability to distribute and shoot the ball with confidence.
 
“Eric's as steady of a player as we've ever had,” Driscoll said.  “Last year we asked him to play a little bit outside of his game, but this year he has been able to do some many things for us.  He's driving to the basket, making his shots and he passes the ball exceptionally well.  He's a very special basketball player.”
 
Nate Edwards (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic) finished with 20 points and like Brennan, was able to score with effectiveness and efficiency.  He was 8-for-11 from the field and has been a leader by example on the floor for the Golden Bears.  He also finished with four assists and three steals. 
 
The senior is averaging 19 points per contest through three games. He has been explosive on both ends of the floor as his aggressiveness has earned him a team-leading eight steals and has allowed him to convert on 13-of-16 free throw attempts.
 
“Today was an example of when we all play hard and all play together, great things can happen,” Edwards said.  “We contained their top scorer, were able to get some of their guys in foul trouble by being aggressive, and I think we looked very well tonight.”
 
Micah Fraction (Macungie, PA/Montrose Christian) turned in another solid performance at point guard with 18 points with a game-high seven assists.  This week's PSAC Athlete of the Week currently averages 18.3 points per game and has a team-high 18 assists.
 
Fraction and Kutztown shot a combined 53.1 percent from the floor Saturday night, its best of the season.  As great of a rhythm its offense was in, KU's defense held Clarion (1-3, 0-1) to under 32 percent from the field.
 
“As long as we are hitting our shots and playing good team basketball, we can have some great success this season,” Driscoll said.  “With 21 assists to just four turnovers, that is a great job of taking care of the ball.  All of our guys really took care of the basketball and when you get that many extra shots against a very good team in Clarion, it's a great thing to build off of.”
 
Paul McQueen dropped 24 points in the Golden Eagles setback.  He was 11-for-17 from the field and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.  Calvin Edwards finished with 17 points and Winfield Willis closed out the trifecta of CU double-digit scorers with one less than a baker's dozen.
 
Kutztown returns to action tomorrow afternoon with its second crossover matchup.  KU will have less than 24 hours off as it hosts Gannon University with tip set at 3 p.m.
 
“Getting ready for tomorrow, we just have to get some rest,” Edwards said.  “As long as we play tomorrow like we did tonight, we should be able to give it 100 percent tomorrow.”