Box Score



SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Kutztown University men's basketball team overcame an early double-digit deficit and pulled away in the second half to power over Shippensburg University, 90-77, Saturday afternoon at Heiges Field House. With the win, Kutztown has won a share of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division.  It has won the East in three of the past five years.

The top-seeded Golden Bears (18-8 overall, 15-7 PSAC) will host fourth-seeded East Stroudsburg Tuesday night in a PSAC quarterfinal starting at 7 p.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.
 
KU drained nine 3-pointers and shot 53 percent from the field in the victory.  Senior guard Nate Edwards (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic) (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic) led KU with 20 points.  He made three triples and went 7-of-8 at the free throw line.  He moved into ninth place on the KU all-time scoring list, passing Derrick Redd, with 1,292 points.
 
Edwards was one of four Golden Bears to score in double figures.  Senior forward and this week's PSAC East Athlete of the Week Eric Brennan (Chester, PA/West Catholic) (Chester, PA/West Catholic) dropped 19 and made all four of his free throw attempts.  He grabbed eight rebounds in his team-high 38 minutes on the floor.  KU won the battle of the boards against Ship, 33-23.
 
Senior guard Devon McBride (Richmond, VA/Hill School) (Richmond, VA/Hill School) and junior guard Micah Fraction (Macungie, PA/Montrose Christian) (Macungie, PA/Montrose Christian) each finished with 15 points in the regular season finale.  Fraction was 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and dished out a team-high four assists.  McBride was 6-of-12 from the field and helped KU outscore SU's bench, 25-9.  He notched his second double-double of the season with ten rebounds.
 
It wasn't KU's greatest opening half of the season.  Shippensburg (10-18, 7-15) opened up to a double-digit lead in just over four minutes into the game.  The Raiders made their first six shots of the game and led by as many as 11 in the early moments, 15-4.  It also led by 11 midway through the first half, 29-18.
 
The Golden Bears didn't let the opening struggles hold them back however.  Brennan and McBride fueled the early comeback with a combined 11 points in a 14-2 run to end the half.  It took a 41-37 advantage into the break.
 
Most of the second half was played within a five point KU lead.  With a 75-71 lead with 4:27 to play, KU took off on a 13-2 run in three minutes, 19 seconds to push the lead to 15 with 1:08 to go.  It went 3-for-5 from the field during the run and made seven of its eight free throws.  For the game, KU shot 15-for-16 at the charity stripe.
 
Sophomore forward Tyler Brooks (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone) grabbed a season-high four steals Saturday.  He also scored nine points off 4-of-5 shooting from the field.
 
The Raiders were led by Dane Lauber's game-high 25 points.  He was 9-of-15 from the field and was 4-of-5 from 3-point range.  Also scoring in double figures was Will Royal (13), Jordan Stasyszyn (12) and John Corrigan (11).  Craig Van Scyoc grabbed a team-high ten rebounds.
 
KU now prepares for its playoff matchup with ESU on Tuesday.  The teams split their two meetings this year with each team winning on the road.  KU won at ESU on Jan. 14, 75-61, and lost in double overtime at home on Feb. 4, 86-93.  They also met in a quarterfinal match last season as ESU moved on after an 83-70 victory.