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ERIE, Pa. – The Kutztown University men's basketball team threw all it had at Gannon University, the host of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Final Four. Gannon showcased why it is the best defensive team in the league as it downed the Golden Bears, 69-56 in the PSAC semifinals at Gannon's Hammermill Center.
 
The Golden Bears (19-12) put themselves in an early hole with just five made field goals and a -11 rebounding margin to tell the tale of a 14-point halftime deficit. Kutztown fought hard in the second half, was able to make adjustments, and ultimately outscored Gannon by one in the second half. However, Kutztown's flurry of points were too little too late in the final moments of the game.
 
Kutztown was undersized at every position against the Western Champion Golden Knights (22-8). KU tried to attack the paint, work for jump shots, but managed just 18 points in the first half. Gannon was determined to use its size inside in the first half; and when Kutztown was able to adjust down the stretch, KU was unable to close out on Gannon's tall three-point shooters.
 
Gannon held a 40-23 rebounding advantage which turned into an 11-4 lead in second chance points. KU shot 38.6 percent from the field on 17 field goals, five percent and one field goal lower than the teams' first meeting on Jan. 7 at Hammermill Center. Ultimately, Gannon's defense won it the game by not allowing Kutztown any easy shots or second chances at the rim.
 
As a team, KU shot 20-for-25 at the free throw line (.800), but 2-for-11 from beyond the arc (.182).
 
"I felt they did a nice job of taking away our screening opportunities, and every shot we took was contested," head coach Bernie Driscoll said. "I thought we defended them well in the first half and kept them in from of us, but a lot of credit goes to their coaching staff to adjust. They are a very good basketball team."
 
Tyler Brooks was one of four seniors to close his career on Saturday. He played in his 100th career game and finished with 11 points and a game-high five assists. Brooks, an All-PSAC Second Teamer and the 2015 PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year, finished his career with 843 points while ranking fifth in KU history in blocks (141), eighth in rebounds (523), ninth in steals (154) and 10th in assists (244).
 
"This year's group showed great progression of maturity, focus and unselfish play, and I think those attributes got us to this point," Driscoll said. "The team rallied at Christmas, and we were able to accomplish some great things this year. Our kids fought hard every night, and the four seniors played a major part of it. When we would hit a rough patch, those guys were there to pick us up, help us fight through it and teach the young guys what needed to be done. We are going to miss those guys."
 
Sophomore Josh Johnson also scored a team-high 11 points and grabbed six rebounds while battling foul trouble in the first half. An All-PSAC East Second Team selection, Johnson returns for his junior season next year with 812 career points, 410 rebounds and 66 blocks in 58 career games.
 
Austin Beidelman scored nine points and should join Johnson as one of KU's leaders next season. The sophomore has started in 51 of his 54 career games and has scored 481 career points with 170 assists.
 
Seniors Fred Dukes IV and Rell Sherman each saw time down the stretch. Dukes IV scored six points including a 4-for-4 performance at the free throw line, and played in 45 games in his two years in the Maroon and Gold. Sherman added five points with a three-pointer to cap his 53 career games in his two years at Kutztown.
 
Tynell Fortune was Kutztown's top scorer at more than 16 points per game in his only season at KU. After three years at California University (PA), Fortune gave KU the spark it needed time and time again in big moments throughout the season. Despite being held to four points and without a field goal for the first time this season on Saturday, the All-PSAC East Second Team selection can look back at his senior campaign in high spirits. He scored 499 points this year, his 57 three-pointers rank third in KU single-season history, and he closes his 114-game career with 1,322 points.
 
Gannon's Jean Yves Toupane scored a game-high 17 points with five rebounds. Senior guard Adam Blazek had 15 points and five rebounds, and Girbran Smith rounded out the three double-digit scorers with 10 points. As a team, Gannon shot 44.4 percent from the field and 80 percent at the free throw line.
 
This year marked the fifth time in program history and the first since 2010 that Kutztown advanced to the PSAC Final Four. It was picked to finish fifth in the PSAC Preseason Poll, but exceeded those outside expectations to tie for second, earning Driscoll his third PSAC East Coach of the Year honor.
 
Saturday was the first semifinal game KU lost in program history after winning the previous four (three under Driscoll).
 
Kutztown returns 10 players next season that includes a redshirt freshman from this season and two injured role players that could make a significant impact next season.