Box Score



KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Its highest scoring output in over three years pushed the Kutztown University men's basketball team to a 108-73 victory over visiting Millersville University Saturday afternoon at Keystone Arena.
 
Kutztown (11-5 overall, 8-4 PSAC) has now won seven in row and is the longest winning streak since its 14-game unbeaten run to start the 2008-09 season.  With Bloomsburg falling to West Chester on Saturday, KU draws within a game of first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division. 
 
The last time the Golden Bears scored more than 108 was when it posted 127 on Dec. 30, 2008 against Penn State Berks.  It was also the seventh straight win over the Marauders (5-11, 3-9).
 
A dominant opening half was the difference maker Saturday.  Just under seven minutes into regulation, KU held a 31-14 lead on an eye-opening 91 percent shooting from the floor.  Despite a 12-1 rally by MU to bring it to within six, the Golden Bears stole the show with a fast pace offense and impressive long range shooting to put together a 22-4 run.  There was no better way to end the first half for KU, as senior guard Nate Edwards (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic) (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic) came up with a loose ball and went the length of the floor to lay it in with three seconds to go.  KU went into the locker room with a 22-point, 56-34 advantage.
 
“We have some knockdown shooters on our team and if you leave any one of us open, the shot is most likely going to go in,” Edwards said.  “A lot of our offense goes through Eric (Brennan) and he's been able to kick the ball out of the paint and get us some open looks at the basket.”
 
Edwards tied his career-high with 29 points Saturday, 18 of which coming in the first half.  It is the third time this season the senior came within one of the 30-point mark.  Edwards shot 8-for-16 from the field and made all 12 of his free throw attempts.  He added four assists and four steals in his 33 minutes.  The high offensive output was a welcoming sign for the senior who for the first time in the last four games didn't find himself in foul trouble.
 
Fellow senior Devon McBride (Richmond, VA/Hill School) (Richmond, VA/Hill School) dropped 23 points and made a game-high four 3-pointers.  He had 16 points in KU's 56-point first half, and finished the game with an impressive 9-of-14 shooting from the field.  The PSAC's leading scorer has reached the 20-point mark in nine games this season.  McBride opened the game with a 3-pointer as KU would hold the lead the rest of the way.
 
Micah Fraction (Macungie, PA/Montrose Christian) (Macungie, PA/Montrose Christian) scored 19 in the victory.  He was hindered by foul trouble in the opening half, but still managed to score ten points in just eight minutes.  The junior point guard shot 6-for-8 from the field including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.  He chipped in five rebounds along with three assists while making all four of his free throws.
 
“I thought we played very unselfish basketball in the first half,” KU head coach Bernie Driscoll said.  “Our guys were able to hit some shots and we've improved a lot since the first six or seven games.  Our seniors have done an excellent job of taking it upon themselves to help our guys realize we have to play team basketball every night if we want to have a shot at the title.”
 
Senior forward Eric Brennan (Chester, PA/West Catholic) (Chester, PA/West Catholic), this week's PSAC East Athlete of the Week, saw his string of three straight double-double's come to an end.  The top rebounder in the East notched 17 points with nine rebounds and a game-high five assists.  He made seven free throws, tying the second-most of his career.
 
KU shot 55.6 percent from the field and went 30-for-39 from the charity stripe.  It had 17 assists to 12 turnovers to control the game and hold KU's philosophy of team basketball on both ends of the floor.
 
Millersville also placed four players in double figures.  Elijah Obade had 16 points with a game-high 13 rebounds.  Anthony Coleman (19), C.J. Scott (14), and Jaymes Miller (10) also eclipsed the 10-point mark.  KU limited Millersville to 39.7 percent from the field.  It was the fourth time in the past five games KU has held its opponent to under 40 percent shooting.
 
KU's bench turned in some tough minutes against Millersville.  Mike John (East Stroudsburg, PA/East Stroudsburg North) (East Stroudsburg, PA/East Stroudsburg North) had seven points in his nine minutes on the floor.  Abdul King (Philadelphia, PA/Constitution) (Philadelphia, PA/Constitution) grabbed seven rebounds to go along with his six points, while Jayson Johnson (Columbus, NJ/Life Center Academy) (Columbus, NJ/Life Center Academy) helped run the offense in his 13 minutes.
 
Kutztown is averaging 91.4 points per game in its latest winning streak.  It is shooting 53.8 percent from the field while holding opponents to just over 70 points on 38 percent shooting.  The Golden Bears are defeating their opponents by an average of 21.3 points as well.   
 
“We started to get a lot of team camaraderie over the winter break,” Edwards commented on the team's high level of play.  “Being around each other, you get to know everyone's likes and dislikes on the basketball court.  Micah has really come into his own finding players when they get open.  We have great confidence in each other and we are really starting to mesh well.”  
 
KU will look to extend the streak on Wednesday, Jan. 21 as it travels to Mansfield for a PSAC East matchup beginning at 7:30 p.m.  KU split its games with MU last season with each team winning on its home floor.