Box Score Kutztown 62, Goldey-Beacom 58 (HTML Box Score)
WILMINGTON, Del. – Sophomore guard
Ryan Connolly (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) knocked down four three-pointers as part of a career-high, 20-point night to lead the Kutztown University men's basketball team to a 62-58 road victory against Goldey-Beacom College on Friday night at the Joseph West Jones College Center.
Connolly scored 13 of his game-high 20 points in the second half as the Golden Bears (1-0) staved off a late surge by the Lightning (1-3) in their home-opener. Including a four-point spurt to end the first half, Kutztown opened up a double-digit lead nearly five minutes into the second half off a 16-5 run. Connolly came out of the locker room on fire in the second half as he hit three three-pointers in the opening 4:05.
Kutztown led by as many as 11 with 6:26 to play, which seemed to trigger Goldey-Beacom to put together one final run. Built on missed free throws and three consecutive Kutztown turnovers, the Lightning cut their deficit to one (57-56) with a 12-2 run with 1:19 to play.
In his first collegiate game, freshman point guard
Austin Beidelman (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) answered the Goldey-Beacom run with a jumper to extend the lead back to three (59-56). Kutztown stood its ground on defense on the following possession. Freshman
Josh Johnson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) blocked a layup attempt with 32 seconds left, and senior forward
Tyler Brooks (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) grabbed a timely defensive rebound with 24 seconds to play. Connolly knocked down a pair of free throws and Beidelman hit one with nine seconds left to close out the season-opening win.
Kutztown has now opened its regular season with a win for the seventh time in the last eight seasons. It is also the third straight win for Kutztown over Goldey-Beacom.
Johnson could not have had a better start in his first game in the Maroon and Gold. Coming off the bench, he made his first five shots and went 5-for-6 overall for 12 points in 21 minutes on the floor. He also led the team with nine rebounds and a pair of blocks, including one in the final minute of regulation.
Beidelman was right behind Johnson with 11 points and a game-high six assists. He grabbed five rebounds in 37 minutes on the floor, and helped Kutztown dish out 15 assists, tied for the second-most of all last season. Brooks rounded out the quartet of double-digit scorers with 10 points.
As a team, Kutztown shot 40 percent from the field and 41 percent from beyond the arc. It also defended extremely well to hold Goldey-Beacom to 32 percent shooting and just 1-for-16 from three-point range.
Donte McGill led the Lightning with 18 points off the bench in just 25 minutes. Derrick Archie grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, and Chris Gebhart finished with 14 points.
The Golden Bears will enjoy the rest of the weekend off from competition, and prepares for its home-opener on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. against Wilmington. KU defeated Wilmington last year on the road, 92-68.
