KUTZTOWN, Pa. (February 27, 2011) – The first day of the best month of the year features two squads that haven't needed March to create they type of madness that makes Dick Vitale hoarse.
East Stroudsburg University and Kutztown University have played men's basketball against each other since 1927 and the schools are located less than an hour from each other. Yet, they have never met in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoff contest until now. The Warriors and Golden Bears will meet in a PSAC quarterfinal contest at Keystone Arena Tuesday, March 1. Game time is 7:00 p.m.
Presale tickets can be purchased in Keystone Hall in room 105. The ticket office will close at 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28 and will re-open on Tuesday, March 1 at 8 a.m.Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $2 for students. However, students from member institutions will be admitted free with a valid I.D. There will be no complimentary tickets and only PSAC passes will be accepted at the door. For fans that can't make the game in person, it will be shown live on KUTV, which is Service Electric Channel 24 and Hometown Utilicom Channel 28 in Kutztown and eastern Berks County.
The last four matchups between the Golden Bears (16-10) and the Warriors (15-11) have been decided by a combined total of nine points. Each game has also come down to the final possession. They have created their own share of chaos in recent meetings. This season, the teams split a pair of matchups with each team winning on its home floor. KU won 85-82 on Jan. 15 at Keystone Arena and ESU got the second matchup 69-68 at Koehler Field House.
“We always look forward to playing East Stroudsburg because we know they're always going to bring out the best in us,” Kutztown senior guard Steve Coffey (Reading, PA/Wilson) said. “It's always an exciting game and we're definitely happy to be home to start the playoffs. We have to make sure we value each possession and execute when we need to.”
What's odd is even the all-time series is close with East Stroudsburg holding a razor-thin, 74-73 edge. Working in Kutztown's favor, is its home dominance against PSAC East schools in the last three seasons. The Golden Bears are 20-2 against PSAC East schools, including playoffs. The Warriors have lost six games by five points or fewer in the last nine years at Keystone Arena. Kutztown will be looking for its third straight quarterfinal victory.
Kutztown is making its ninth straight trip to the PSAC playoffs and 17th overall in program history. The Golden Bear playoff streak is the longest of any conference school. Kutztown has appeared in the last two PSAC championship games falling to Gannon and Indiana, Pa. The Golden Bears are out to add the missing piece to their decade long run of excellence.
“It's nice to be in the playoffs, but our goal is to win the PSAC title,” Kutztown head men's basketball coach Bernie Driscoll said. “I mean years ago, the goal was to be competitive and look representative, but that's not our goal now. We just have to get more consistent play from our team.”
East Stroudsburg is making its second straight playoff appearance and fifth in the last six years. ESU hosted the Final Four last season after winning a share of the PSAC East title for the first time since 1992. Both KU and ESU advanced to the PSAC Final Four and NCAA Atlantic Regional last season. The Warriors were the preseason conference favorite and they have started to display that form. East Stroudsburg brings a modest three-game winning streak into its opening round playoff matchup.
The Golden Bears beat Millersville, 82-66, in its regular season finale. East Stroudsburg beat Shippensburg, 68-61.
The second matchup was ultimately decided by Mike Tobin's jumper with 1:24 remaining. Kutztown had the ball twice following Tobin's basket, but it turned the ball over each time. Johnson led the Golden Bears with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Edwards finished with 13 points and Eric Brennan (Chester, PA/West Catholic) added 11 points for Kutztown, which led by 13 points in the first half. For ESU, Johnson scored a team-high 11 points and Covert finished with 10 points. Marcus Brown and Mike DeMarco added nine points each for the Warriors.
Johnson leads five Kutztown players in double figures with a 16.1 point per game average. He also averages a team-high 8.9 rebounds. Johnson, who was named PSAC East Player of the Week twice this season, had 14 points and 12 rebounds against Millersville. Johnson has recorded eight double-doubles this season.
Edwards is KU's second leading scorer (13.8 points per game) after his 19 point performance against the Marauders. Also scoring in double figures for the Golden Bears are Gray (11.2 ppg.), McBride (11.1), and Brennan (10.6). McBride scored 19 points against Millersville. Gray leads Kutztown with 71 assists, 47 3-pointers, and 35 steals.
Further evidence that suggests these two teams are evenly matched is that the Warriors are also led in scoring by a Johnson. Duane is ESU's top scorer at 12.2 points per game. Tobin (10.8) and Terrance King (10.3) are also double digit scorers for the Warriors, who have 10 players averaging 10 or more minutes. The Warriors have made 170 3-pointers as a team this season.
In their last game against Shippensburg, the Warriors used a 12-0 late to gain control and finally shake the Red Raiders. Brown had 11 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double and Blair Ramsey and DeMarco scored 10 points each for the Warriors.
The other men's first round matchups feature fourth seeded Cheyney (18-8, 8-6) at top-seeded Mansfield (18-8, 10-4). In the West, defending tournament champion and national runner-up Indiana, Pa. (21-5, 12-2) will host No. 4 seed California (15-11, 8-6) and second-seeded Mercyhurst (20-6, 11-3) will host third-seeded Slippery Rock (19-9, 9-5).
The quarterfinal winners will advance to the Final Four, which will be hosted by the highest remaining seeded team in the West Friday and Saturday, March 4 and 5.
--KU--
