HTML Box Score MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – Wednesday, a winning record was sealed. Saturday, the Kutztown University men's basketball team punched its ticket to the postseason with a hard-fought 68-63 win at Millersville University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division game at Pucillo Gymnasim.
The Golden Bears (15-9, 12-6 PSAC East) remain in second place in the Eastern Division, one game behind East Stroudsburg and one game ahead of West Chester. As the lone three teams in the East currently with a winning conference record, it is likely that the trio will battle for two of the first round byes in the conference tournament.
Kutztown returns to the postseason for the 12th time in the last 13 years, and has had a winning record in 11 of the last 13.
KU led for more than 33 minutes of Saturday's 40 minute contest (83 percent). It led by as many as 14 points late in the first half, fueled by a 14-0 run, and used its best performance at the free throw line of the season to seal the victory. Kutztown shot 25-for-27 at the charity stripe, 92.6 percent. It is KU's best outing since a 21-for-22 game against Concord on Nov. 10, 2012.
Millersville was not going to go down easily after falling to KU by 11 earlier this year at Keystone Arena. The Marauders scored six straight points, capped with a fast break dunk, leading up to the final media timeout of the game to trail KU by one point (56-55) with 3:58 to go. Following a KU timeout, tensions ran high and a technical foul was charged to Millersville. Two ensuing KU free throws took the wind out of the Marauders sails for a final run.
KU built its lead back up to seven coming out of the timeout, and made all 10 of its free throws in the final 3:49. Millersville drew within a possession twice in the final 1:15, but KU cashed in its free throws and made stops when needed to pull out the win.
Notably, KU made its final 19 free throws of the game, spanning over the final 15:27.
Josh Johnson, coming off a 30-point, 14-for-14 performance vs. Cheyney on Wednesday, scored a game-high 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting against Millersville on Saturday. The sophomore surpassed 700 career points (701) and 350 career rebounds (352) in the win. Johnson grabbed four rebounds with two blocks and two steals in 34 minutes.
Johnson's 14-for-14 performance last Wednesday marked the best output in all NCAA divisions in the last seven seasons, dating back through the 2008-09 year. Dan Beyer of Division III's Wisconsin-Eau Claire went 15-for-15 on Nov. 16, 2007. Johnson's performances dates back eight seasons in Division II, as Patrick Hannaway of UC-Colorado Springs went 15-for-15 on Nov. 25, 2006.
Tynell Fortune and
Austin Beidelman both shot 6-for-6 at the free throw line to finish in double figures in scoring. Fortune finished with 11 points, surpassing the 1,200 career-point mark (1,202). Beidelman finished with 10 points.
Tyler Brooks once again showcased his tremendous all-around game. Against a physically superior team inside, Brooks led KU with nine rebounds and five assists while scoring seven points. He moved into eighth all-time with 493 rebounds, 10th all-time with 141 steals and 11th all-time with 229 assists. He has scored 783 points in 93 career games.
Sam Light scored 14 points for Millersville with a 6-for-6 performance at the free throw line. Tavon Parker scored 10 points as Tyler Krchnavi and Eddie Callender each grabbed nine rebounds.
Kutztown continues its road trip on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at Lock Haven University. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.
