Box Score SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Kutztown's
Micah Fraction (Macungie, PA/Montrose Christian) played all 40 minutes and poured in a team-high 19 points as the Golden Bears beat Shippensburg, 68-63, in the team's PSAC East opener.
Tyler Brooks (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) turned in an all-around good performance. The junior tallied seven points and game-high 12 rebounds, while adding four assists and three blocks.
With a three-point lead coming out of half time, the Golden Bears knew they would have their work cut out for them.
Kenny Wilson (New Castle, DE/Delcastle) opened the second with a three-pointer for some breathing room but the Red Raiders would not go away.
Trading buckets back and forth,
Ryan Connolly (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) and Fraction added three's as Kutztown clung to a 47-41 lead at the 14:05 mark. SU finally clawed back with 9:45 to go in regulation with a 55-54 lead but that was short lived when Tracy Peal regained the lead with a layup and Wilson buried another three.
Fraction went on to score the next six points and Brooks added two free throws down the stretch as the Maroon and Gold were able to hold off Shippensburg. KU took advantage of second chance points throughout the second, outscoring SU in that department, 8-1.
The first half saw 10 lead changes with Dylan Edgar trying to do his best to keep an SU lead. Half way through the first, he hit two jumpers to extend the lead to five but Kutztown was too much as
Abdul King (Philadelphia, PA/Constitution) hit a three to grab a four-point lead at the 5:37 mark.
Edgar led Shippensburg with a double-double on 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting and 12 rebounds. Akil Anderson chipped in with 15 points, while Joe Lococo was the only other Red Raider in double figures with 12 points.
The shooting percentages were fairly even with KU at 48 percent and Shippensburg at 45 percent, but the Golden Bears shot 47 percent beyond three compared to SU's 30 percent.
The Golden Bears will have the next 10 days to prepare for a pair of home games next Tuesday and Wednesday against Clarion (12/18) and Lock Haven (12/19). Both games are scheduled to start at 5:30.
