BOWIE, Md. – The Kutztown University men's basketball team's remarkable run of second half comebacks continued on Sunday afternoon, as the Golden Bears overcome their third second half deficit of at least eight points in the last three weeks to end non-conference play with an 85-79 victory at Bowie State on Sunday afternoon at Jordan Arena.
Five Golden Bears set a new season-high in points, led by
Ethan Ridgeway (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) and
Josh Johnson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) combining for 46 with 24 and 22, respectively.
Howard Sellars (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Area (Saint Peter's)) (10),
Ricky Hicks (Coatesville, Pa./Polytech) (6) and
Martin Dietrich (Maytown, Pa./Donegal) (4) each came off the bench to contribute their season-highs.
KU (8-1) shot 53.4 percent (31-58) and made a season-best 75.0 percent (6-8) from beyond the arch for its best 3-point percentage since making 81.8 percent (9-11) at Cheyney on Jan. 18, 2012 – a span of 137 games. The Maroon and Gold were also dominant in the paint, where they outscored Bowie State 42-22.
After trailing by 10 just 3:27 into the contest, Kutztown actually took a 38-36 lead into the locker room, but Bowie State would score the first five points of the second half. The Golden Bears answered with the next four points, all by Johnson, to momentarily go back on top with 18 minutes remaining before the Bulldogs grabbed back the lead on the next trip down the court
BSU's lead would fluctuate between one and four points for the next few minutes until Dayshawn Wells capped a 10-4 run with an and-one to put the Bulldogs on top 61-53 at the 12:08 mark.
KU chipped away at the deficit, thanks in large part to two 3-pointers in a span of 1:26 by
Anthony Lee (Willow Grove, Pa./Abington), before a Ridgeway and-one with 8:32 showing capped a 13-4 flurry to give the Maroon and Gold a 66-65 lead.
There would be six lead changes and four ties over the next 3:30 before Ridgeway nailed a 3-pointer with an even four minutes left to put Kutztown on top for good.
Bowie State (4-8) did get as close as one with two free throws on the ensuing trip down the floor but over the next two possessions,
Ryan Connolly (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) made two free throws, and Sellars grabbed an offensive rebound that led to a layup to help KU maintain its advantage.
When BSU pulled within three with just 26 seconds remaining, Dietrich kept his cool and made 4-4 from the line down the stretch to preserve the victory.
Ridgeway's 24 points were a new career-high, and he added five rebounds and a game-high four assists.
Johnson's 22 points came on 10-13 shooting (76.9 percent), and he added game-highs of 11 rebounds and three steals for his second double-double of the season.
Sellars (4-5) and Hicks (3-4) also shot well en route to their season-highs, while Dietrich grabbed a season-best four rebounds.
Lee gave Kutztown four players in double-figures as he scored 12 points.
Ahmaad Wilson led BSU with 21 points and four assists, while Michael Briscoe was two rebounds shy of a double-double with 14 points.
KU held Bowie State to just 41.4 percent shooting (24-58), but the Bulldogs hung tough by making 25-33 (75.8 percent) at the line.
With non-conference play behind it, Kutztown now turns its attention to defending its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division title. At 4-1, the Golden Bears currently trail co-leaders East Stroudsburg and Shippensburg by one game.
KU will have an opportunity to tie one of those co-leaders in its next game on Saturday, Dec. 30 when its hosts current unbeaten and No. 22 Shippensburg (8-0) as part of a doubleheader with the women.
