Box Score



Kutztown 68, Cheyney 65 (HTML Box Score) | Video of Game-Winning Three-Pointer
 
CHEYNEY, Pa. – Sophomore Ryan Connolly (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) hit the game-winning three-pointer with 46.3 seconds left to lift the Kutztown University men's basketball team to a 68-65 victory over Cheyney University at a deafening Cope Hall on Wednesday night in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division game.
 
After leading by as many as 12 points in the first half, the Golden Bears (8-14, 6-6 PSAC East) trailed the Wolves (3-20, 3-10) by seven with 3:38 to play. Kutztown stood its ground on defense from then on as it closed the game on a 10-0 run.
 
With Kutztown trailing by seven with 3:38 to play, sophomore forward Tracy Peal scored five of his game-high 27 points in a row to cut the deficit to two (65-63) with 2:16 to play. KU's defense forced a missed jumper, and then grabbed an offensive rebound on its own miss with 1:00 to play. With a play drawn up out of the timeout, Peal drove to the lane and kicked the ball to a wide open Connolly, who buried his lone three-pointer of the night to give KU a 66-65 lead with 46.3 seconds to play.
 
The final 30 seconds kept both teams on its feet, as turnovers and missed free throws ensured a dramatic finish. Kutztown turned the ball over twice in its own backcourt with the shot clock turned off, but Cheyney could not capitalize as it missed two free throws and a potential go-ahead jumper with 11 seconds left. Kutztown made two free throws in the final nine seconds as Cheyney's mid-court heave at the buzzer did not fall to give Kutztown its second straight win.
 
Peal notched his fourth double-double of the season with a game-high 27 points and 10 rebounds. He scored most of his points in the paint and continued to attack defenders off the dribble. He shot an effective 10-for-16 from the field and 7-for-10 from the free throw line.
 
Elijah Jackson (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) scored 10 of his 13 points in the second half and shot 4-for-5 from the field. On the opposite end, Josh Johnson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) scored 10 of his 11 points in the first half and did not have a shot attempt in the second half after shooting 5-for-5 in the first half. He grabbed nine rebounds and had two blocks.
 
Ball security played the most significant factor in Cheyney's comeback in the second half. In the first half, Kutztown posted 12 assists and five turnovers. In the second half, it had two assists and 12 turnovers. With the added turnovers, Kutztown only took 14 shots in the second half, but made nine of them. It shot 56.8 percent from the field for the game.
 
Cheyney took 20 more shots than Kutztown, but converted just 37.5 percent of them. Deshawn Curtis only played in the second half, but led the team with 15 points. Khalil Meadows scored 12 points and Jerrod Johnson finished with 10.
 
The offense funneled through the post in the first 15 minutes of the first half. Forwards Johnson and Peal combined for 18 of Kutztown's first 21 points. Leading 25-21, Kutztown made its next three shots including two and-one layups from Peal as part of a 8-0 to take a 33-21 lead, its largest of the game.
 
Kutztown capped the first half with Johnson's third dunk of the half off an assist from freshman point guard Austin Beidelman (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) to lead 35-25 heading into the locker room. After starting the game shooting 2-for-11, Kutztown finished the half by shooting 14-for-19 over the final 12:29 of the half. KU shot 53.3 percent from the field and tallied assists on 12 of its 16 field goals. Peal and Johnson had 25 of Kutztown's 35 first half points as Peal led the way with 15.
 
Cheyney took advantage of some sloppy play from the Golden Bears out of the locker room and went on a half-opening 15-4 run to take a 40-39 lead, its first since 2-0. Kutztown attempted one field goal in the first five minutes of the half. The game remained with a possession or two leading up to Cheyney's game-high seven-point lead in the final four minutes.
 
The Golden Bears return home on Saturday, Feb. 15 to host Millersville University at 3 p.m. at Keystone Arena. Millersville (10-11, 6-6) won the first meeting on its home floor, 77-73.