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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Tynell Fortune (Blakeslee, Pa./Pocono Mountain West (California (PA))) scored 24 points and helped the Kutztown University men's basketball team secure a 71-62 victory down the stretch over Mansfield University on Wednesday night in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)-opener from Keystone Arena.
 
The Golden Bears (1-2, 1-0 PSAC East) controlled the first half by shooting 56 percent from the field and holding the Mountaineers (1-1, 0-1) to 35.5 percent in the opening 20 minutes. KU led by 11 at halftime and built its lead to 17 in the opening minutes of the second half.
 
Then, things started slipping away from Kutztown in its conference-opener.
 
In a five-minute span, Mansfield shot 7-for-10 from the floor, made three three-pointers, and extended its possessions with offensive rebounds to mount an 18-5 run and cut its deficit to four at 52-48 with 12:04 to play.
 
All but one possession for the remainder of the game was played within single digits. Mansfield continued to attack the paint down the stretch, but despite going to the foul line often due to a strategy call by the Golden Bears, it simply could not convert at the free throw line. Mansfield shot 7-for-22 (.318) from the free throw line, including 5-for-19 (.263) in the second half.
 
Kutztown did not help itself in the final minutes with some costly turnovers, and led by five with just under two minutes to play. With Mansfield driving to the basket in search of a layup and a one possession game with 44 seconds to play, Austin Beidelman (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) swatted the attempt into the baseline wall that brought Keystone Arena to its feet in the waning moments.
 
Mansfield turned the ball over on its ensuing possession, and Kutztown made all six of its free throws in the final minute to secure the win.
 
Fortune's 24 points came on the heels on a career-high 25 points on Saturday at Shepherd. He opened his night by making all three of his three-point attempts, but he was not afraid to drive to the basket for a layup or a trip to the free throw line. He shot 7-of-8 from the charity stripe and also dished out five assists.
 
Tracy Peal Jr. (Drexel Hill, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) aided Fortune in the early scoring, as the duo combined for the team's opening 13 points. Peal Jr. finished with 14 points and six rebounds and was one of three double-digit scorers for the Golden Bears.
 
Beidelman was extremely efficient at the point guard position. In 35 minutes, he scored 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, and dished out six assists with no turnovers.
 
Josh Johnson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) and Tyler Brooks (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) combined for 11 rebounds, and made their mark on the defensive end by limiting a powerful Mansfield front-line to minimal points.  Martin Dietrich (Maytown, Pa./Donegal) also stepped up in crunch time with two three-pointers off the bench in the second half.
 
Mansfield had three players finish with 13 points. Joe Bell, who torched the Golden Bears for 33 points last year at Keystone Arena, 24 coming in Mansfield's second half comeback win, was limited to 13 on Wednesday on 5-for-14 shooting in 39 minutes. Andreas Katoposis and Charles Pemberton each had 13 points.
 
The Golden Bears get the chance to build on Wednesday night's win this weekend against one of the top teams in the Eastern Division. They travel to West Chester University on Saturday, Nov. 22 for a 3 p.m. tipoff.