Box Score



Kutztown 73, West Chester 70 (HTML Box Score)
 
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Fred Dukes IV (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove (Community College of Philadelphia)) and Ryan Connolly (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) turned in their best games of the season on Saturday. They combined for 37 points, played significant roles in Kutztown making all 18 of its free throws in the second half, and led the Kutztown University men's basketball team to a 73-70 road victory against West Chester University from Hollinger Fieldhouse.
 
The Golden Bears (7-14, 5-6 PSAC East) defeated the second-ranked team in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division in the Golden Rams (15-7, 8-4), and also avenged a loss at Keystone Arena from earlier this season. With the win, Kutztown moves into a tie for fifth place in the East with Millersville.

It was Kutztown's first win at West Chester since 2010.
 
Kutztown overcame a 16-point deficit and did not lead until the final 1:19. It shot 18-for-18 at the free throw line in the second half. KU opened the game 4-of-10 from the free throw line, and then made 26 of its final 27 free throws.
 
Dukes IV started in his first game of the season and scored a season-high 18 points. He was 6-for-6 from the line, and drained a crucial three-pointer with the shot clock expiring that gave Kutztown its first lead of the game with 1:19 to play. In 33 minutes, he dished out a game-high four assists and grabbed four rebounds.
 
Connolly shot 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line, six of which came in the final 15 seconds. His 19 points are the most since he scored 20 in the season-opener on Nov. 15. He also grabbed six rebounds.
 
"It took us a while to recover from a poor start, but I thought we controlled the tempo in the second half," head coach Bernie Driscoll said. "Ryan and Fred had great games for us tonight. Fred came up with some big shots down the stretch, and you always want Ryan shooting free throws for you at the end of the game."
 
Kutztown's defense held West Chester to 33 points in the second half and 70 for the game for a team that averages 81 per game. West Chester took 18 more shots due to less turnovers and free throws, but used the opportunity to shoot 4-of-19 from three-point range.
 
Kutztown trailed by a game-high 16 points (35-19) with 3:37 to play in the first half. It then stepped up its defense in the final three minutes and forced West Chester to shoot 0-for-4 from the field and commit three turnovers as Kutztown scored 10 unanswered points. West Chester made two free throws with two seconds left as KU trailed 37-29 at halftime.
 
West Chester used an 8-2 run to take its first double-digit lead of the second half coming out of the first media timeout (48-38). Kutztown scored on its next three possessions as part of a 7-0 run to pull within three at 48-45 with 13:59 to play.
 
With 2:23 to play, freshman Elijah Jackson (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) made two free throws to bring KU within two (62-60) for the first time of the second half. Following a stop, Dukes IV drained a three-pointer from the top of the key with the shot clock expiring to give KU its first lead of the game at 63-62 with 1:19 to play. It capped a 9-1 run for Kutztown.
 
The teams traded free throws for the following possessions, but Kutztown never gave West Chester an opening to take the lead. West Chester continued to make quick driving layups as opposed to attempting a game-tying three-pointer, and Kutztown answered by making both free throws every time.
 
Freshman point guard Austin Beidelman (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) was Kutztown's third double-digit scorer with 11 points. Fellow freshman Josh Johnson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) led the team in rebounding with seven. As a team, Kutztown won the rebounding battle 33-29.
 
For West Chester, Troy Hockaday led the team with 16 points. Cory Blake scored 14, as R.J. Griffin and Shannon Givens both added 13.
 
The Golden Bears return to action and remain on the road on Wednesday, Feb. 12 when it takes on Cheyney University at 8 p.m. Kutztown won the first meeting, 76-74.