Box Score



East Stroudsburg 83, Kutztown 70 (HTML Box Score) | Photo Gallery
 
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University men's basketball team trailed by one at halftime and led early in the second half, but a nine-point run and a strong overall second half by East Stroudsburg University lifted it to an 83-70 win over Kutztown on Saturday afternoon in Kutztown's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division opener at Keystone Arena.
 
The Golden Bears (1-2, 0-1 PSAC East) were led offensively by three double-digit scorers. Freshman forward Josh Johnson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) scored a season-high 18 points including a perfect 6-for-6 performance at the charity stripe. He also grabbed six rebounds in 27 minutes, and is the only Golden Bear to score in double figures in each of its first three games.
 
Senior Tyler Brooks (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) finished with a season-high 17 points, including his 500th career point, with a team-high eight rebounds and three assists. He also tallied a season-high three blocks. Sophomore forward Tracy Peal had 13 points with seven rebounds.
 
The Warriors (6-0, 2-0), who entered the game receiving votes in the national coaches poll, were led by guard Whis Grant's game-high 27 points. Kutztown played Grant tough and threw many different options at him, but the All-American stepped up and made some difficult shots, some from well beyond the three-point arc. He shot 10-for-17 from the field with three triples while also making all six of his free throws.
 
"I thought we played well in the first half, despite some foul trouble, but they seemed to build up the pressure in the second half and we did not react well to it," head coach Bernie Driscoll said. "They were relentless today, and that is a credit to their coaching staff. Our freshmen were indoctrinated to PSAC basketball today."
 
For the second straight game, Kutztown walked off the floor knowing it left some valuable points on the rim and at the free throw line. It missed double-digit free throws for the second straight game, but attacked the basket well and finished with a solid field goal percentage (41.8%).
 
Three-point attempts were a rare occurrence for the Golden Bears. Not only did it make a season-low two three-pointers for the second straight game, it only shot seven for the game. It is the lowest number of three-point attempts for Kutztown since a PSAC quarterfinal game in 2011, coincidently against East Stroudsburg in a matching 83-70 defeat.
 
"I saw some improvements, but I thought they were in areas that we were okay in," Driscoll said of his team's play since last Wednesday night's game against Wilmington. "I think with a young team, you are going to see some very good basketball, but you are also going to see some times when you can do is shake your head. We have to stay out of foul trouble, make our free throws and layups, and get some defensive stops. If we can do those things, we will be okay."
 
Despite the double-digit outcome, Kutztown hung with the Warriors and was able to establish lengthy runs in the first half. A three-pointer from the top of the key by Brooks midway through the first half gave Kutztown its largest lead of the game (22-15). East Stroudsburg responded with 19 points in a shortened span of 4:26 as part of a 21-5 run. ESU was 8-for-10 from the field during the run and forced four KU turnovers. Grant scored 13 of the 21 points and Rasheed Moore scored six of his 14 in the run.
 
Kutztown showed poise and did not allow a substantial deficit at the half though. It put together a 9-1 run in 3:36 to trail 37-36 heading into halftime.  KU forced a pair of turnovers, held ESU to without a field goal, and had Brooks score five of the team's nine points in the run.
 
A pair of Brandon Bridy (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville Area) free throws in the opening minute of the second half gave Kutztown its first lead (38-37) since the 7:53 mark of the first half. Shortly thereafter, ESU went on a 9-0 run to build a 10-point lead just about five minutes into the second half. The lead remained in double figures for the majority of the game from then on.
 
The Golden Bears were faced with a tough full-court Warrior defense for most of the game, but were able to beat the pressure at times, but also turning the ball over at times. For the game, KU had 16 turnovers to ESU's 18, but a 21-of-24 performance at the free throw line and eight three-pointers allowed the Warriors to build their lead in the second half.
 
Along with Grant's phenomenal game, Moore scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds for East Stroudsburg. Lamont Tillery also finished in double figures with 12 points and eight rebounds.
 
Kutztown will look to rebound shortly as it takes a break from conference play, but welcomes non-conference foe Philadelphia University at Keystone Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 26 beginning at 7 p.m.