Box Score



MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The Kutztown University men's basketball team ran into some second half struggles Saturday afternoon.  After leading at halftime, KU dropped a 77-67 decision to Millersville University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup at Pucillo Gymnasium.
 
Kutztown (14-8 overall, 11-7 PSAC) remains tied for second place in the East with East Stroudsburg.  In order to earn its tenth consecutive trip to the playoffs, Kutztown needs just one win in its final four games.  With Bloomsburg losing to West Chester on Saturday, KU is still just one game out of first place.  Millersville (9-13, 7-11) sits outside the top four and needs a lot of help in order to make the playoffs.
 
Most of the game was played within a five-point differential as there were nine lead changes and five ties.  It wasn't until midway through the second half did Millersville capitalize on some costly KU errors and take control of the game. 
 
Beginning at the 11:15 mark, KU made just two field goals in six and a half minutes to help Millersville ignite its transition game.  With a majority coming off free throws and layups, the Marauders went on a 15-4 run, turning a two-point, 50-48, lead into a 65-52 advantage with 6:09 to play.  It was their largest lead of the game.
 
Coming off the bench for the first time this season, junior guard Micah Fraction (Macungie, PA/Montrose Christian) (Macungie, PA/Montrose Christian) made some key buckets in the final minutes to bring the Golden Bears within striking distance.  Fraction scored seven straight points for KU to cut the Millersville deficit to five on two occasions, the latest coming with 1:30 to go.  Unfortunately, that is as close as Kutztown would get as Millersville scored the last five points of the game.
 
Fraction and senior guard Nate Edwards (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic) (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic) each scored a team-high 16 points in the setback.  Fraction scored all his points in the second half after not attempting a shot in the opening period.  He was 5-of-13 shooting from the floor, made two 3-pointers, and converted on four of his five free throw attempts.
 
Edwards got off to a great start Saturday with ten points in the first half.  He played a game-high 36 minutes and shot 6-for-18 from the field.  He grabbed five rebounds but gave the ball up eight times.
 
Kutztown opened things up early, jumping out to a 9-2 lead less than three minutes into the game.  Millersville showed its composure to hang tough with the Golden Bears and earn its first lead of the game, 20-18, with 8:51 remaining in the half. 
 
Senior guard Devon McBride (Richmond, VA/Hill School) (Richmond, VA/Hill School) put together eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, in an 11-2 run to give KU its largest lead of the game at seven, 29-22.  Kutztown held off a late Marauder surge to take a 35-31 advantage into the break.
 
McBride entered the game as the PSAC's top scorer, but finished six points under his average on Saturday.  He dropped 15 against MU, 13 of which coming in the first half.  He shot 5-for-12 and grabbed eight rebounds.
 
Foul trouble cost KU its top two rebounders.  Eric Brennan (Chester, PA/West Catholic) (Chester, PA/West Catholic) and Tyler Brooks (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone) played as tough as they could on the low block, but each fouled out of the contest.  Brennan fouled out with 4:26 to go attempting to take a charge on a Millersville fast break.  He finished with nine points and five rebounds.  Brooks grabbed a team-high 11 boards.
 
Kutztown saw a drop of 22 percent in field goal percentage in the second half.  After shooting 48.3 in the first half, KU was held to 26.3 in the final 20 minutes.  No KU player had more than two assists as it finished with seven for the game.  It turned the ball over 15 times which ultimately spoiled its chances of overcoming the double-digit deficit.
 
The loss was an eye-opener for fans, who saw Kutztown roll to a 108-73 over Millersville less than a month ago.  It was just the second time Millersville claimed a victory over Kutztown in its last 11 chances.
 
Millersville stormed out of the locker room looking to gain some momentum on its home floor in the second half.  MU amounted a 9-1 run and led 40-37 at the first media timeout.  It was able to rebound on both ends of the floor, and won the rebounding battle, 46-40.  Elijah Obade entered the game tied with Brennan as the Eastern Division's top rebounder.  He grabbed 16 rebounds to go along with 11 points to lead MU.
 
The Marauders' top scorer was Jaymes Miller with 18.  Larry Grant dropped 14, eight of which coming at the charity stripe.  Desmond Vance rounded out the quarter of double-digit scorers with 13.  MU was 27-for-37 at the free throw line and made 13 more free throws than Kutztown (14-for-18).
 
KU has now dropped three in a row and will have to wait until Wednesday for its next shot at clinching a spot in the playoffs.  The Golden Bears make their yearly trip to Cope Hall to take on Cheyney University on Feb. 18.  Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.