Box Score



Lock Haven 91, Kutztown 85 (HTML Box Score) | Video Replay
 
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University men's basketball team featured some new starters role players, and followed its yearly trend of overcoming early adversity to work back to a one possession game in the final minutes; however, Lock Haven University used its experience and determination to seal a 91-85 victory over the Golden Bears on Wednesday night in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division game from Keystone Arena.
 
The Golden Bears (8-16, 6-8 PSAC East) were playing with a 'win-and-in' mentality against the Bald Eagles (15-9, 8-6). Kutztown and Mansfield are battling for the final playoff spot in the PSAC Tournament, as KU will need to win one of its final two games, or have Mansfield lose its final game for Kutztown to clinch a spot.
 
Over the next seven days, Kutztown is scheduled to host Shippensburg (2-22, 0-14) on Saturday and travel to Bloomsburg (14-10, 9-5) next Wednesday. Mansfield's final game is on Saturday at home vs. Bloomsburg.
 
Kutztown played without two of its starters and found itself in an early 18-point hole midway through the first half, but battled back for most of the game with five freshman on the court. After trailing by 12 with 1:52 to play, Kutztown battled in front of its largest crowd of the season and effectively managed every possession down the stretch. It scored six points in a row, and following a pair of free throws by Lock Haven, cut the LHU lead to five with a three-pointer by Tracy Peal, only his third of the season.
 
The defense worked hard and forced turnovers in Lock Haven's backcourt, but was unfortunate by not capitalizing on opportunities in front of the basket.
 
Both teams entered with seemingly similar offensive game-plans, to attack the basket. Despite the similar play on both ends of the floor, Lock Haven held the advantage with 37 free throw attempts compared to Kutztown's 23. Lock Haven's 91 points also marked the second straight game and second time this season Kutztown has allowed 90 or more points.
 
With Elijah Jackson (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) and Ryan Connolly (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) missing the game due to injury, some new faces were granted the opportunity of extended minutes and the chance to help the team punch its playoff ticket. Freshman LeRoy Hoggard (Parkesburg, PA/Coatesville) was active on both ends of the floor and took a season-high 11 field goal attempts, second on the team, to finish with eight points and three assists.
 
Austin Ford (Blue Bell, PA/Sanford School) and Antonio DePina (Bear, Del./Polytech) both saw double-digit minutes and had season-best scoring nights. Ford finished with 11 points and four rebounds, three on the offensive end, on 4-of-5 shooting, and DePina posted nine points with three assists.
 
Kutztown's top scorers did not stray from its usual suspects. Freshman Josh Johnson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) notched a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds on 7-for-10 shooting. Sophomore Tracy Peal scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds, and Fred Dukes IV (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove (Community College of Philadelphia)) scored 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting.
 
For Lock Haven, Wali Hepburn scored a game-high 25 points, 11 of which came from the free throw line. Al Blount (four three-pointers) and Kasheef Festus each finished with 16 points.
 
Saturday's home-finale against Shippensburg is slated to tip at 3 p.m. It will also mark senior day for Mike McCready (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom (King's College)).