SHEPHERDSTOWN, W. Va. – The Kutztown University men's basketball team nearly overcame an 18-point second half deficit and came within one point of Shepherd University on Saturday night, but dropped an 80-75 decision in non-conference action at the Clarion Hotel Conference Challenge.
 
Trailing 46-28 five minutes into the second half, the Golden Bears (0-2) went on a 17-point, 27-10 run to pull within one at 56-55 with 7:22 to play. Senior guard Tynell Fortune (Blakeslee, Pa./Pocono Mountain West (California (PA))) fueled the run with 10 of his team-high 25 points during the seven-minute stint.
 
Kutztown never took the lead against Shepherd (2-0), but again trailed by one point with 1:32 to play following a jumper by Tyler Brooks (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone). Shepherd called timeout, ran a lengthy play that was capped by a three-point basket by Morgan McDonald. KU missed a three-point bucket on its next possession and trailed by six after intentionally fouling Shepherd and two made free throws.
 
Fortune made a quick layup out of a timeout to cut the deficit to four, and a late three-pointer by Fortune with three seconds left brought the Golden Bears within a possession at three, but Shepherd made seven of its 10 free throws in the final two minutes to hold on to the win.
 
Fortune shot 9-for-12 from the field including four three-pointers and three steals.
 
Johnson notched his first double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds, including five offensive rebounds. He made all four of his free throws, as Kutztown shot 17-for-22 (.773) at the charity stripe. He played with four fouls and played 39 minutes.
 
Johnson was named to the Clarion Hotel Conference Challenge All-Classic Team.
 
Tracy Peal Jr. (Drexel Hill, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) finished with 11 points as Austin Beidelman (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) and Brooks each had eight. KU primarily used a six-man rotation along with sophomore Howard Sellars (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Area (Saint Peter's)) off the bench.
 
Austin Cunningham scored a game-high 26 points with nine free throws and five assists. Skyler Roman had 16 points off the bench, McDonald had 13 points as Garett Burkhead rounded out the quartet of double-digit scorers with 10.
 
Kutztown opens up conference action on Wednesday, Nov. 19 in its home-opener against Mansfield University at Keystone Arena beginning at 7:30 p.m.