KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The race for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division crown has heated up.  With a win on Wednesday, the Kutztown University men's basketball team would secure its tenth straight season of qualifying for the PSAC playoffs, the longest active streak in the conference.
 
The Golden Bears (14-6 overall, 11-5 PSAC) have won nine of the last 11 games against the Golden Rams of West Chester (11-9, 8-8).  The two teams meet for the second time this season on Feb. 8. Tipoff at Hollinger Fieldhouse is set for 8 p.m.
 
Fans unable to make the trip to West Chester can still follow the Golden Bears online.  Live stats will be available by clicking here.  Brandywine Radio will also be covering the game and can be accessed by clicking here.
 
Coming off its first loss in ten games, and first of 2012, KU sits in a tie for first place in the East with Bloomsburg (15-6, 11-5).  East Stroudsburg's (14-8, 10-6) double overtime win on Saturday over KU brought it to within a game of first place as the Warriors remain third.  West Chester rounds out the potential playoff picture with a three-game cushion.
 
Wednesday's matchup marks the beginning of a three-game road trip for the Golden Bears.  KU is 5-2 on the road this season with both losses coming in crossover play.  KU dominated WCU on Jan. 11 as it rolled to an 87-68 victory.  Kutztown will enter the game having its ten-game winning streak snapped by ESU, 86-93.  West Chester has won five of its last six games and is coming off an 81-70 victory over Millersville on Saturday.
 
In the teams' first matchup, KU sophomore forward Tyler Brooks (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone) posted a career-high 22 points.  He shot 10-for-11 from the field while chipping in four blocks, four rebounds, and a pair of steals.  Brooks was one of five starters who finished in double figures in scoring.
 
KU has consistently been the top scoring team in the PSAC as they average 84.3 points per clip.  Noteworthy, KU's starting five accounts for 75.7 of those points (89.8 percent).
 
A two-sport athlete, Brooks is one of the most athletic forwards in the conference.  His versatility on both ends of floor, and speed in transition, has caused opposing centers issues early on.  With Brooks opening up the middle of the floor, senior forward Eric Brennan (Chester, PA/West Catholic) (Chester, PA/West Catholic) has seized the opportunity and has owned the paint.
 
Brennan is second in the PSAC and leading rebounder in the East at 9.8 per game.  He is five away from 200 on the season and has a team-high nine double-doubles.  He averages 13 points per game and has scored in double figures in 17 of his 20 games this season. However, two of the three single-digit performances have come in the last three contests. 
 
KU's guard play has given the frontcourt a solid support system thus far.  Senior Devon McBride (Richmond, VA/Hill School) (Richmond, VA/Hill School) leads the PSAC at 21.2 points per game.  Senior Nate Edwards (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic) (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic) is fifth at 18.4, and junior Micah Fraction (Macungie, PA/Montrose Christian) (Macungie, PA/Montrose Christian) is 12th at 15.9.
 
Edwards played a crucial role in KU's second half comeback on Saturday.  The senior is one of the top perimeter defenders in the league and is second in steals per game (2.3).  He has 45 steals this season and is third in school-history with 186 in his career.
 
West Chester is currently riding a two-game winning streak and is averaging 74.6 points per game.  Forward Lance McDowell was one of four Golden Rams to score in double figures when they made the trip to Keystone Arena in January.  He finished with 15 points and nine rebounds.  For the season, he leads the team with 15 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
 
Jon Breeden finished with a team-high 15 points in the win over Millersville on Saturday.  He averages 14.5 points per game and is second in the conference in free throw percentage (.876).  KU and WCU are first and second in free throw percentage with 76.8 and 76.5 percent shooting, respectively.
 
Following its game against West Chester, Kutztown travels to Millersville on Saturday, Feb. 11 for a PSAC East matchup beginning at 3 p.m.  KU took down MU 108-73 on Jan. 21. It was the highest scoring output for KU since 2008.