Box Score CHEYNEY, Pa. – Kutztown University's
Micah Fraction (Macungie, PA/Montrose Christian) exploded for 31 points, but Cheyney defended its home as the Wolves defeated the Golden Bears 68-59 in PSAC East action.
Fraction hit 8-of-14 field goals and was 6-of-11 from three-point range and 9-of-9 from the foul line. He played all 40 minutes, as did
Tyler Brooks (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone). All five KU starters saw at least 36 minutes of action.
Brooks had eight points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Ryan Connolly (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) added 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-5 from behind the arc. The freshman also had six rebounds.
The Golden Bears hit 9-of-19 from long range (47 percent) and went 16-of-20 from the foul line (80 percent).
Kutztown came out of the gate fast, opening the game with a 16-6 run, including six points from both Fraction and Connolly. The Wolves, however, closed the lead quickly and went ahead 18-17 on a three by Brandon Norfleet.
Fraction later reclaimed the lead for KU with a layup at 5:59 that made it 23-22, but Cheyney held a 33-29 lead at the intermission.
Kutztown pulled to within one on several occasions in the first half, but the Wolves held the Golden Bears from claiming the lead. A three by Fraction made it 47-46 with 9:37 remaining, but a triple by Deshawn Curtis stretched Cheyney's lead back to four.
Kenny Battle (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter)'s free throw with 8:42 left pulled KU within 50-49, but a jumper by Curtis was followed by a Jayvon Beaty field goal and a Christopher Burney leaner extended the Wolves' lead to seven.
Kutztown would get no closer than five points the rest of the way.
Cheyney, who shot 64 percent in the second half and 52 percent in the game, placed five players in double figures in scoring. The Wolves also turned the ball over just a dozen times in the game.
Norfleet poured in 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting and Rashaad Slappy added 13 on 6-of-10 from the floor. Calvin Brown, Beaty and Burney each scored 10 points.
Kutztown will look to get back into the win column on January 26 at Millersville.
