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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Strong defensive play from the Kutztown University men's basketball team led it to a 53-43 victory over Mercyhurst University on Sunday for its second straight win over the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)'s powerful Western Division at Keystone Arena.
 
The Golden Bears (10-5, 7-2 PSAC) and Lakers (9-5, 6-3 PSAC) squared off as two of the top teams in the conference on Sunday. Both teams have held seven-game winning streaks throughout the season and were forced to turn around quickly from their crossover games 24 hours prior.
 
Kutztown, the first place team in the PSAC East, opened the game sharp from the field, making seven of its first 10 shots, and capped an opening 17-6 run with a fast break jam by Josh Johnson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) nearly nine minutes into the first half. KU maintained its double-digit lead for the majority of the game, as it led by 12 at halftime following a buzzer-beating layup by Johnson, and by as many as 16 in the second half.
 
The suffocating defense of the Golden Bears held Mercyhurst to 7-of-29 (24.1 percent) shooting in the first half, and held the Lakers' top two scorers to no points. Damon Jones and Gerrae Williams entered the game averaging a combined 23.1 points per game, and finished with six.
 
Mercyhurst also entered the game as the second-best free throw shooting team in the PSAC, but did not get to the free throw line once in the first half.
 
Johnson was the best player on the floor on Sunday, notching his fourth double-double of the year with game-highs of 18 points and 11 rebounds. He shot an effective 8-for-9 from the field and kept himself on the floor by staying out of foul trouble on the low block. His 36 minutes played were his most since Dec. 6 vs. Millersville.
 
In KU's two PSAC crossover games this weekend, Johnson averaged 15 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting over 70 percent from the field.
 
Tynell Fortune (Blakeslee, Pa./Pocono Mountain West (California (PA))) followed his 22-point night on Saturday with 11 on Sunday. He also grabbed a season-high seven rebounds with three assists.
 
Tyler Brooks (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) grabbed eight rebounds, scored six points, and had three assists, three blocks and two steals in 38 minutes. Defensively, Brooks and Anthony Selby (Jersey City, N.J./Williamstown (Burlington County CC)) each had three blocks. Brooks leads the PSAC in blocks per game (2.1) and Selby ranks 10th (1.3).
 
As a team, Kutztown outrebounded Mercyhurst by 16 (45-29), including a season-high 14 offensive rebounds. It is the third straight game KU has posted its season-high in offensive rebounds.
 
Kutztown wraps up crossover play on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at Gannon, the top-ranked team in the Western Division. Tipoff in Erie is set for 7:30 p.m.