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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University men's basketball team battled through one of its longest games in program history on Saturday. It went toe-to-toe with West Chester University through four overtime periods at Keystone Arena, and despite exceptional performances from multiple Golden Bears, Kutztown fell to West Chester 97-96 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup.
 
Kutztown's four-overtime game tied the longest game on record in school history, and marked the longest game to be played in Keystone Arena since it opened in 1971. KU's other four-overtime game was on Feb. 24, 1988 at West Chester University, a 103-101 loss. KU head coach Bernie Driscoll was an assistant coach at West Chester at the time, and coached current KU assistant coach Rick Hicks (1988 Box Score).
 
Both teams posted nearly identical numbers in shooting percentage, West Chester held a +14 rebounding advantage with 20 offensive rebounds (KU led second chance points 15-13), KU held a +4 turnover margin, but the game was ultimately decided by each team's execution on the final plays of each period.
 
The Golden Bears (13-9, 10-6 PSAC) would have never made it to what turned out to be 20 extra minutes, had it not been for freshman point guard Ethan Ridgeway. The West Chester native has seemed to step up late in games for KU this season. His toughness and quickness earned him playing time in crucial moments for Kutztown. His late buckets and 7/2 assist/turnover ratio on Saturday proved that he deserved to be on the floor.
 
Ridgeway gets high praise from his teammates for his toughness and hard work. He describes his role as a facilitator and to push the tempo offensively, but he provided much more than that on Saturday. With the final seconds waning down in regulation and KU trailing by two, Ridgeway took control of the final play, drove to the lane and got his layup attempt to roll in to send the game to overtime (VIDEO).
 
West Chester (11-11, 9-7) could have taken the lead with 24 seconds to go in the first overtime, when KU's Josh Johnson fouled out of the game, but split free throws to tie the game at 70-70. Kutztown ran down the clock for one chance to win the game, Tyler Brooks got off a good three-point look from the corner, but it rimmed off to send the game to a second OT (VIDEO).
 
KU's other big man, Anthony Selby, fouled out in the second overtime, giving freshman Jeanlee Baez the opportunity to make his impact. The Allentown native played for all but the final five seconds since he entered the game early in the second overtime. He took multiple charges and set some forceful screens in extra time that could earn him additional playing time this season.
 
After Selby fouled out, the second overtime came down to a tied score with 53 seconds remaining. Both teams missed their shot attempts to lead to the third overtime (VIDEO).
 
West Chester split free throws and tied the game for the 13th time with 36 seconds left in the third overtime. Notably, West Chester shot 11-of-18 from the free throw line in the overtime periods, and 17-for-30 for the game. KU was 7-of-8 in overtime and 16-for-23 for the game.
 
KU ran down the clock again in the third overtime for one final shot for its senior forward. Brooks caught the ball at the top of the key and fired a three-point attempt that fell short to send the game to a fourth overtime (VIDEO).
 
West Chester's Matt Wiseley opened a four-point lead for the Golden Rams with 1:09 to play. KU answered with a free throw, and needed to make a stop to keep the game to one possession. Wiseley got off a contested look just inside the three-point line, had his shot go off the rim, but the rebound was grabbed by West Chester, who split its two free throws with 10 seconds left.
 
Brooks pushed the tempo in the final seconds and found Tynell Fortune for a three-pointer to cut the deficit to one with five seconds to play. West Chester inbounded from the baseline and connected on multiple passes and avoided KU fouls to earn the one-point win.
 
Brooks will surely sleep well on Saturday night, as he played an astonishing 58 minutes, the most in recorded school history. He also added a game-high five blocks and has 133 in his career, three shy of fifth in KU history. Brooks was one of four double digit scorers for the Golden Bears, led by Fortune's 21 points and seven rebounds in 52 minutes.
 
Austin Beidelman posted his strongest offensive game of the season with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting. He also grabbed five rebounds and had three assists.
 
Ridgeway finished with 13 points and a game-high seven assists in 38 minutes. Johnson grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds before fouling out with nine points. Selby had eight points and seven rebounds.
 
West Chester had five double-digit scorers. Forward Thomas White was especially utilized once Johnson and Selby fouled out, and scored 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting with nine rebounds. Mike Wilson drained six three-pointers for 18 points, Cory Blake and Parrish Grant each scored 13, and Wiseley finished with a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
 
With PSAC East-leading East Stroudsburg also falling on Saturday at Millersville, KU remains two games out of first place behind ESU. West Chester is now a game behind Kutztown in the standings.
 
Kutztown returns to action and remains at home at Keystone Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 4 against Cheyney University (2-19, 1-15) beginning at 7:30 p.m. KU defeated the Wolves at Cope Hall earlier this year, 76-61.