Box Score Indiana (PA) 88, Kutztown 56 (HTML Box Score)
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University men's basketball team went up against one of the top teams in Division II on Saturday. It took on seventh-ranked Indiana University (PA) and stayed in the game in the first half, but a significant run to open the second half proved to be too much to overcome as Kutztown dropped a 88-56 decision at Keystone Arena.
The Golden Bears (3-6) were led by freshman
Josh Johnson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown). He finished with 10 points and eight rebounds on an effective 5-of-9 shooting. Johnson has scored in double figures in each of his nine games this season, the most since Butch Hills' 10 in 1985.
Freshman
Elijah Jackson (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) played a career-high-tying 29 minutes for the third straight game. He was aggressive and active on both ends of the floor and finished with seven points and a career-high-tying six rebounds.
The Crimson Hawks (10-0) could easily be the toughest team Kutztown will play all season. Playing with four Division I transfers, they were extremely effective with just seven turnovers to Kutztown's 20, and had great success in transition with 18 fast break points.
Late in the first half, Kutztown went on a quick 7-0 run in which it forced a pair of turnovers to cut the deficit to 10 (31-21). Indiana (PA) led 35-21 at the half.
Kutztown scored the first bucket of the second half, but Indiana (PA) responded with 16 unanswered points to take a commanding 51-23 lead just more than four minutes into the second half.
The second unit of the Golden Bears turned in a solid final four minutes to end the game. With the Crimson Hawks leading by a game-high 42 points with 3:49 to play, both teams went to their benches to wrap up the game. KU scored 10 of the game's final 11 points as four different players scored.
Martin Dietrich (Maytown, Pa./Donegal) drained a three-pointer,
Kalvin Simpson (Media, PA/Penncrest) converted an old-fashioned three-point play,
Brandon Bridy (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville Area) made a pair of free throws, and found
Austin Ford (Blue Bell, PA/Sanford School) with a blistering chest pass that led to a driving dunk to close out Saturday's non-conference game.
Indiana (PA) had two 20-point scorers and three players score in double figures. Mathis Keita, a senior transfer from Gonzaga, scored a game-high 26 points with eight rebounds and three three-pointers. Brandon Norfleet, a transfer from Cheyney, scored 21 points on an effective 9-for-13 shooting. Marcel Souberbielle, the pride of Uruguay, finished with 16 points and six rebounds while making all four of his free throws.
The Golden Bears return to action on New Years Eve, when they host the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Dec. 31 beginning at 1 p.m.
