SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Slow starts to both halves and below-average shooting hindered the Kutztown University men's basketball team on Saturday as it dropped a 78-70 decision to Shippensburg University on the road in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup at Heiges Field House.
The Golden Bears (8-2, 6-2 PSAC East) had their five-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Raiders (7-5, 4-4). They were forced to overcome a quick 9-0 deficit in the opening minutes as it trailed by a similar nine-point mark at the half, Kutztown's largest halftime deficit of the season.
Shippensburg pocketed a pair of three-pointers and a layup in the opening 1:55 of the second half as its lead grew to a game-high 17 at 56-39. Kutztown did trim the deficit to single-digits but was unable to take a lead during the game.
KU shot 30.9 percent from the field and 19 percent from three-point range, both season-lows. On the opposite side, Shippensburg posted quality percentages at 46.4 from the field and 44.4 from downtown.
Kutztown's strength on Saturday was its ability on the offensive glass. It grabbed an eye-opening 28 offensive rebounds, its most since 2007.
Josh Johnson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) had five of those offensive boards and ended with his fourth double-double of the season at 17 points and 14 rebounds.
For the second straight game,
Will Adams (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep (McMurry)) came off the bench to score nine points, all in the first half.
Austin Beidelman (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) and
Anthony Lee (Willow Grove, Pa./Abington) also had nine points.
Justin McCarthur dropped 17 of his game-high 21 points in the first half for Shippensburg. Jay Hardy had 13 points and Dustin Sleva rounded out the trio of double-digit scorers with a double-double of 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.
The Golden Bears look to rebound at home on Wednesday, Dec. 30. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. at Keystone Arena, to be followed by KU women's basketball at 3 p.m. vs. Holy Family University.
