Box Score



Seton Hill 71, Kutztown 58 (HTML Box Score)
 
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Elijah Jackson (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) and Josh Johnson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) each posted 11 points and 10 rebounds as the Kutztown University men's basketball team opened the New Year with a disappointing 71-58 setback to visiting Seton Hill University on Friday afternoon at Keystone Arena.
 
Kutztown (3-8) and Seton Hill (9-3) played within six points for most of the game. Both teams made 24 shots, and Kutztown grabbed 16 offensive rebounds for 15 more opportunities at the basket. Seton Hill was far more effective from the field, however, and scored a greater amount of points from three-point range and at the free throw line.
 
The Griffins shot 8-for-20 from beyond the arc compared to Kutztown's 1-of-11 performance, and made 15 free throws to Kutztown's nine. Together, it gave Seton Hill a 13-point advantage in its 13-point victory over the Golden Bears.
 
Headed by its pair of double-digit rebounders, Kutztown won the battle of the boards for the second consecutive game, 41-33. In its last game against Sciences, KU grabbed a season-high 18 offensive rebounds.
 
Jackson's performance marked his first career double-double. The guard has scored in double figures in three of his last four games, and has grabbed four or more rebounds in five straight games. He also handed out a team-high three assists.
 
Johnson played a team-high 37 minutes after missing much of the second half of Kutztown's previous game due to injury. He shot 5-for-9 from the field in his second double-double of the season.
 
Like it has in many of its games this season, Kutztown got off to a hot start and built an 11-2 lead in the opening four minutes of the game. It marked Kutztown's largest lead of the game.
 
With Kutztown leading 17-10, Seton Hill went on a lengthy 21-3 run that significantly changed the momentum of the game. During the run, Seton Hill shot 8-of-10 from the field with four three-pointers and six different scorers, while Kutztown shot 1-for-10 from the field. The run spanned 9:21 as Seton Hill led 31-20 with 3:02 to play in the half. It led 33-26 at halftime.
 
Senior Malachi Leonard was by far Seton Hill's best player on Friday. Coming off a seven-point, nine-rebound first half, Malachi remained active and called for the ball whenever the Griffins needed a bucket down the stretch. He was masterful in the post, and also showed a soft touch from outside the paint on his way to 20 points, 15 rebounds, and six blocks.
 
Kutztown scored eight of the first 11 points in the second half to bring the deficit to two. Trailing by one later in the half, Kutztown could not find the answer to retake the lead. An 11-4 run took the Seton Hill lead to eight, and a 15-6 run to end the game, with seven of the points coming from Leonard, sealed Kutztown's fate.
 
Sophomore forward Tracy Peal scored a team-high 15 points for Kutztown, including a three-pointer. He also had three offensive rebounds in 31 minutes on the floor.
 
Along with Leonard, Noah Davis (15), Max Kenyi (13), and Kameron Taylor (10) all scored in double figures.
 
Kutztown remains at home and will have to rebound quickly as it takes on California University (PA) on Saturday, Jan. 4 beginning at 3 p.m. The Vulcans (4-8) fell to Shippensburg on Friday, 72-61, and have yet to win on the road this season. One streak will have to end, as Kutztown will be searching for its first home victory of the year.