KUTZTOWN, Pa. (November 30, 2011) – Kutztown University used a 24-2 run in the first half to break the game open and rolled to a 95-66 win over visiting Penn State Berks.
Devon McBride (Richmond, VA/Hill School) paced the Golden Bears (3-2 overall) with 20 points, his third straight game with at least as many points. He hit 6-of-12 field goals, including 3-of-6 from long range, and went a perfect 5-of-5 from the foul line.
“Devon's a very strong offensive player and just can take over the game at times,” Kutztown Head Coach
Bernie Driscoll said of McBride's performance. “We've just got to make sure we get good shots and I think he stepped up.”
The Nittany Lions (0-2 overall) jumped ahead 7-2 in the first three minutes and still led 7-4 until
Nate Edwards (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic) tied the game with a three with 15:22 left in the half that started a string of six straight made field goals for Kutztown during a 24-2 run that broke the game open. The Golden Bears limited Penn State Berks to just 1-of-4 shooting in the stretch and forced the Nittany Lions to commit seven turnovers.
“We didn't really play well the first five or six minutes and you have to really give a lot of credit to Penn State Berks,” Driscoll noted. “I thought they came out and played hard and ran some good offensive sets and we didn't react well to it. Then we got our feet under us and then we were OK.”
McBride had 15 points at the half as Kutztown took a 51-37 lead into the intermission.
After heating up as the first half went on, the Golden Bears continued their hot shooting into the second half, hitting 16-of-30 field goals (53 percent) and all nine of their free throws to continue to pull away.
Mike John (East Stroudsburg, PA/East Stroudsburg North) scored 10 of his 17 points off the bench in the second half. The 17 points were a career-best, as were his seven field goals made.
Eric Brennan (Chester, PA/West Catholic) had his second double-double of the year with 17 points and 10 rebounds. He hit 7-of-11 from the field.
Micah Fraction (Macungie, PA/Montrose Christian) chipped in with 15 points and added four assists. On a rare off night shooting,
Nate Edwards (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic) contributed in other ways, notching game-highs with six assists and five steals.
Tyler Brooks (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) had career-highs with nine rebounds and four steals, while adding eight points and a pair of blocks.
Tore Turner was the lone player for Penn State Berks in double digits with 20 points, matching KU's McBride for game-high honors.
Kutztown finished the game at 48 percent from the floor and hit 24-of-30 free throws (80 percent). The Golden Bears also outrebounded the Nittany Lions 46-31.
KU returns to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play when the Golden Bears head west to Mercyhurst on December 3 and take on Slippery Rock the following day. Both games are set for 3:00 PM tip offs.
