Box Score Lock Haven 62, Kutztown 58 (HTML Box Score)
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Lock Haven University's Wali Hepburn scored a game-high 28 points including the game-winning and-one with 16.3 seconds left to topple the Kutztown University men's basketball team 62-58 on Saturday afternoon in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division game from Thomas Fieldhouse.
The Golden Bears (4-12, 2-4 PSAC East) and Bald Eagles (10-6, 3-3) met for the first time as Eastern Division foes on Saturday, as Lock Haven is playing its first season in the East. The teams played within a possession for the majority of the game, as each team answered the other time-after-time. Unfortunately for the Golden Bears, they were unable to answer Lock Haven's game-winning bucket in the final minute.
Tied at 58 with 43 seconds left, Lock Haven called a play for its leading scorer. Despite not having subbed out all game, Hepburn drove hard to the bucket and made a layup with a foul call with 16.3 seconds left. He went on to make the free throw and finish the game 10-of-14 from the charity stripe. Notably, Hepburn shot 14 of the team's 18 free throws.
Kutztown dribbled into the front court and called a timeout with 7.7 seconds left to draw up one final play, needing a three-pointer to tie the game. Kutztown attempted a deep three-pointer from the top of the key, but fell short as Lock Haven scooped up the rebound and the game.
An understandably frustrating outcome, Kutztown's last four losses have been by six points or less. It has overcome significant deficits and has had a chance to win the game on multiple occasions, but has just not been able to take that final step, excluding its 76-74 win at home vs. Cheyney last Saturday.
What the Golden Bears had working for them on Saturday though, was that they did not have to overcome any sizable deficits, as they led 11-2 in the early going, by four at halftime (31-27), and led for 69.8 percent of the game (27:55), compared to Lock Haven's 15.2 percent (6:05).
All five of Kutztown's starters played 30 or more minutes, and scored 54 of the team's 58 points. Freshman
Josh Johnson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) led the team with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting while grabbing seven rebounds. Tracy Peal and
Austin Beidelman (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) each chipped in 11 points, with
Elijah Jackson (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) scoring nine and
Ryan Connolly (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) finishing with eight. Connolly also grabbed a season-high nine rebounds.
Field goal percentages were both comparable, but Kutztown's 29.6 percent in the second half stands out as a difference maker down the stretch.
Hepburn was the only Bald Eagle to score in double figures, and the only player to shoot double-digit field goal attempts. He dished out a game-high six assists though with four rebounds and a pair of blocks. He was 0-for-6 from three-point range, but contributed to Lock Haven's 38-16 scoring advantage in the paint.
Kutztown closes out its three-game road trip on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at Shippensburg University (2-14, 0-6), who has yet to win a game in the Eastern Division. Tipoff at Heiges Field House is set for 8 p.m.
